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/* Reactionary to the Point of Absurdity */
::::: While I'm here, I'll add some other thoughts. This essay has always bothered me, but I haven't been able to pin down exactly why. But I think I've just realised. When growing up I was lacking many of the societal norms (and I'm not here referring to secular vs. Christian), and wished that people had given me more advice such as in this essay sooner (and gentler) than they did. The problem is that these are very specific ''examples'' (e.g. baking biscuits (sorry, "cookies")), but they are presented as ''rules''. The ''rule'' is that you should be chivalrous. The essay points are merely ''examples'' on how to do that. And of course most of these apply equally to both sexes anyway (e.g. both males and females should pay compliments to both males and females, not just boys to girls). [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 11:15, 31 October 2008 (EDT)
:::::::I still do not understand the core idea of treating boys and girls differently (that is, adults treating us differently) is appropriate. There is, as M. Rayment has shown, a rather public conversation (debate) going on about a test in a classroom. That is not being chivalrous, it is reinforcing stereotypes and in fact engendering the idea that boys are "better" than girls, not just "different". Why isn't there simply more emphasis on students treating *each other* well, regardless of their gender. I see nothing Christian about saying girls should not be challenged in the same way as boys; I do see tons of biblical ideas that no one should be a braggart. Love and Respect should be given for all students both from each other and the teacher, right? isn't that the core of Chivalry? treating people with respect and kindness?--[[User:JeanJacques|JeanJacques]] 11:46, 31 October 2008 (EDT)
::::::Thank you Mr. Rayment for getting it right: '''"That is, whether or not he dates a girl from his youth group will depend on him and the girl (including her consent)... "''' What has "chivalry" got to do with the price of hemlock? And to respond to the comment from Mr. Schafly, I am very much involved in my local church's youth section, specifically, the part of it that used to be called "Sunday School".
::::::And more to the point, my problems with the essay are twofold; firstly, they are oddly and needlessly specific. '''"Be appreciative when a girl makes biscuits for the entire class"'''. So, you shouldn't be appreciative when a boy does it? Or when they make Victoria Sponge? Or when they only buy biscuits (not bake them) for the class? Or when they only do it for one person? Or how about when they invite them to a birthday party? "Surely, "Be appreciative when somebody does something for you" would be more general. My second problem is the horrible gender conformity that it seems to advocate. Apparently, girls must have their parents permission to date a boy. Fine, a little archaic, but we'll run with it. But nowhere does it say the same for boys. The conclusion has to be drawn that for boys it doesn't matter. Why? Same goes for the one about biscuits; it appears not in the girls' section. Do boys not cook? Everybody has to eat. I'm hardly Jamie Oliver, but I know how to stop myself starving, short of MacDonald's every day. I could go on... so I will. The one about "staring at attractive girls"; apparently girls can stare at attractive boys. "Do not attempt to embarras a boy." But apparently it's okay the other way around. [[User:KarlJaeger|KarlJaeger]] 12:00, 31 October 2008 (EDT)
