Alex Bragi
05-28-2005, 08:22 AM
How is it that, these days, everybody wants to 'medicalise' everything? We don't have jerks on our roads any more—we have 'road rage syndrome'. And, that creep back at school that used to push you around and steal your lunch money, he's no longer a butt headed bully. Oh, no, he's got 'bully's syndrome'. No more fat kids either; the poor little buggers are suffering from "junk food syndrome". The list of culture bound excuses and euphemisms goes on. But, the one that really intrigues me lately is "irritable male syndrome' It's not that he's not getting enough sex, sulking because of something you said earlier, or just simply doesn't feel like talking. Oh, no.
Now, is this perhaps the equivalent to pms?
Sure, I know all about the premenstrual syndrome. It's hormonal. It's a part of being a woman. Why, we're almost expected to be bitches from time to time because of it! It's like a blanket excuse used by men universally. Sure, he may have come home late, forgotten your birthday/anniversary, or been guilty of perving on that bitch's tits—again, but what ever it was he did, it's not his fault! Oh, no, it's hers—‘She must have pms'. I tell you if I had a dollar for every time I've heard that, I'd be rich, and if I had a dollar for every time it was directed at me, I'd be filthy rich. And, why do men have to always smirk when they say that?
But, now, scientists have discovered men's mood swings may also be attributed to hormone levels. Specifically, by a sudden drop in the male hormone testosterone which, in theory, affects their brain and therefore behaviour.
Interestingly, this 'irritable male syndrome' was discovered while studying sheep—rams in particular. Scientists have found that in autumn, when sheep mate, the rams' testosterone levels soar. While in the winter, when testosterone levels fall, they lose interest in sex and become nervous and withdrawn, and will often striking out irrationally.
Some scientist believes that as men get older they get grumpier because of male menopause. Male menopause? Or, could this possibly be just a 'medicalised' way of saying the old boy's cranky because he woke up one morning and, suddenly, realised it's too late to do all those things he wishes he'd done when he was younger?
The 'sheep' scientists believe stress can cause men of any age to suffer from a drop in testosterone levels, which in turn affect their moods and behaviour.
So, ladies, don't worry if your man's grumpy occasionally, just tell yourself, "He must have ims." Oh, and don't forget to smirk when you say it.
Now, is this perhaps the equivalent to pms?
Sure, I know all about the premenstrual syndrome. It's hormonal. It's a part of being a woman. Why, we're almost expected to be bitches from time to time because of it! It's like a blanket excuse used by men universally. Sure, he may have come home late, forgotten your birthday/anniversary, or been guilty of perving on that bitch's tits—again, but what ever it was he did, it's not his fault! Oh, no, it's hers—‘She must have pms'. I tell you if I had a dollar for every time I've heard that, I'd be rich, and if I had a dollar for every time it was directed at me, I'd be filthy rich. And, why do men have to always smirk when they say that?
But, now, scientists have discovered men's mood swings may also be attributed to hormone levels. Specifically, by a sudden drop in the male hormone testosterone which, in theory, affects their brain and therefore behaviour.
Interestingly, this 'irritable male syndrome' was discovered while studying sheep—rams in particular. Scientists have found that in autumn, when sheep mate, the rams' testosterone levels soar. While in the winter, when testosterone levels fall, they lose interest in sex and become nervous and withdrawn, and will often striking out irrationally.
Some scientist believes that as men get older they get grumpier because of male menopause. Male menopause? Or, could this possibly be just a 'medicalised' way of saying the old boy's cranky because he woke up one morning and, suddenly, realised it's too late to do all those things he wishes he'd done when he was younger?
The 'sheep' scientists believe stress can cause men of any age to suffer from a drop in testosterone levels, which in turn affect their moods and behaviour.
So, ladies, don't worry if your man's grumpy occasionally, just tell yourself, "He must have ims." Oh, and don't forget to smirk when you say it.