So, I was driving with my sister the other day and we passed a yard sale. I didn't register most of the crap that was for sale, save for a couple of nice band saws. I'm a wood worker by trade, so I notice stuff like that. My sister says, "hey, look at that cute armchair." I didn't see the chair, so I said, "I missed it, but I did have my eye on those band saws." Her response, "ugh, men."

"What do you mean, 'ugh, men'?" "You [men] always have to try and be macho. It's really annoying." "So I'm not allowed to enjoy what I want because you've determined what men are permitted to enjoy?" "It's the 21st century. Men don't have to put on a manly front anymore. You can be yourself." "I call bullshit on this entire exchange. If I had said, ' ooh, look at those adorable curtains', you'd be like you go girl, be yourself. But because I enjoy working with my hands and molding a piece of raw material into something beautiful, that's a bad thing and I'm putting on a front. I can enjoy what I want regardless of your opinion. You're just being hypocritical. I thought feminism (my sister is a raging feminist) was supposedly about equality and you can be anything you want. In reality you're just about the things you agree with." "Ugh, men."

Let's face it, brothers, we as men are not even second class citizens. In our modern society, we aren't even worthy of the same considerations feminists and white knights profess themselves champions of. The only answer is to say, "fuck you, too" and not participate. I enjoy the things I enjoy and anyone who tells me what I am and am not permitted to enjoy its going to be in for a world of hurt.

If you like machinery and power tools, good for you. If you like race cars and the smell of fuel and oil, good for you. If you like working hard and working worthwhile, good for you. Don't let anyone dictate to you what you are allowed to like.