Last week two guys in my community started a men's social and support group. In one of the founders' words, "all about bringing together like-minded men who want to share stories, seek advice, plan fishing trips, or simply find a safe place to talk." They started it on facebook but they're pretty clear that they want to use the facebook group as a way to connect for in-person interaction. Stuff like the off-roading outing one of the members is organizing for next weekend.

There's a need for it here. And the men here feel that need. In just a week, more than three hundred men have joined. That's decent growth for a private facebook group.

Today one of the founders let us know that he's been being approached by women from the community telling him that they've been approached by other women in the community who have "concerns" about the group. They think it will become a place for encouraging negative behaviour.

A week. It took a week for the pushback to start.

We haven't even had our first meet-up yet and we're already having to circle the wagons. The group isn't going anywhere. We need a space like this and we're not going to let this be taken away from us. But still. A week. Is this the norm when men try to support one another in a purposeful way?