This week we've had some rather controversial articles here on the Life & Style channel, which have got many of you talking.

Several of you got in touch over our article on Escaping violence and abuse, commenting that the piece was too focussed on women being abused rather than men. Thank you to those who did, we'll be asking our sex & relationships expert Dr Pam Spurr to write an article specifically geared towards men being abused in the near feature.

Our Death of the masculine man feature, which revealed that more than 60 per cent of young British blokes have admitted they don't feel masculine in a shocking new survey, also got many people chatting on the discussion boards.

 

Rounded man said: 'We need a man that is able to be in touch with his feminine side as much as with his masculine side without having to go overboard. Women should also be able to do the same with the result being a more rounded, balanced and wholesome human being and a less victim of cultural baggage, opportunism and downright ignorance. Enter the modern-man.'

While an anonymous reader added: "We women have got to the stage where we want a man to be everything...mend the car, do the lawn, be romantic, be the strong one, cry when watching a weepie movie with us, cook the tea, do the ironing.  On the other hand, we are having to do the shopping, go to work, take kids to school, share the ironing, cooking, washing (if we're lucky), be there when the kids are ill, take them to the doctors, dentist etc, be sexy, keep our figures etc etc.'

 

Black SRi commented: 'Pigeon holing chores is just backwards.  Look at how many female plumbers, electricians, mechanics, bus drivers and the like there are nowadays.  Typically 'male' jobs are being taken on by women so it stands to reason that men should be become adaptable too by doing 'female' chores such as washing, ironing, cooking etc.
 
'I agree with what's been said above, society and the media dictate human behaviour in many ways.  I can change a tyre, wire new plugs in my house, do DIY and at the same I have been able to wash, iron, cook and clean after myself for years.  I'd say that makes me more of a man but evidently society (and many women) may frown upon it.'

 

Our article on giving up alcohol, Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder brought many supportive comments from people who have decided to stop drinking, whether for a few weeks, a few months or forever. 

Brian Davidson said: 'I just stopped mainly for my healths sake, my wife also stopped at the same time. Strangely I've never thought about it much, I imagined it was going to be difficult and we had both drinking for many years - not alchoholics but drinking too much. One day I was a drinker, the next 1,000 I never touched even a drop. Look at the freedom I have now, I can drive anytime without any fears, another big bonus is no hangovers. I am not against drink my house is always well stocked with it, but it is only there for our friends.'

Mollynsam agreed: 'Most people associate alcohol with having a good time but since stopping drinking in 2000 I have never enjoyed myself so much without it. My only advice would be to take up something else to fill your leisure time with and honestly you do not have to get blasted to enjoy yourself it is a myth perpetrated by the breweries!'

 

Thank you to everyone who commented on our articles throughout the last month. Keep your views coming in.

 

All the best,

 

Nic