In Case You Need More Incentive To Remember Valentine's Day

[filkertom]

Sperm cells created using female bone marrow.

Those of us who have to make it on our charm and good looks are hosed. Which may not be a bad thing, evolutionarily speaking.

Guys, what do you think you offer to the species? Ladies, what are you actually looking for, that you think we have no clue about?

Comments

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a new topic all by itself....

[braider.livejournal.com]

Hear, hear! for not missing.

*shudder*

Now I remember why I don't live with a guy anymore.

[sdelmonte]

Brains, wit, and gentlemanly behavior. I am quite sure those are the things that won my my beloved.

[madrona.livejournal.com]

Ice cream. Now.

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

(Virtual Puckler's gift card.)

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

Nothing. I'm completely redundant and living on stolen time. I've known this for over twenty years.

[mythdude.livejournal.com]

Somehow I don't think you're completely redundant.

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

Well, I wouldn't offer my genes or (admittedly) rather ordinary body to the species. I wouldn't mind getting hyper-rich and setting up some medical and scientific research foundations, though.

In the meantime, though, I shall remain content to simply entertain, and have occasional flashes of mad-science-level revolutionary ideas :)

[braider.livejournal.com]

Someone who treats me as an equal partner, and doesn't expect me to fulfill a role of his determining. I want a trustworthy friend....whom I also enjoy in bed. Excessive good looks and a well-built body would be nice, too. And a good singing voice. And the ability to dance well. And... ;-)

[the-s-guy.livejournal.com]

No, go on, we're taking notes ;)

[kilbia.livejournal.com]

...that I think you have no clue about? I don't think there's anything I'm looking for that somebody already hasn't discovered other women want too.

I want someone's who is affectionate and demonstrative (which I have, and I will probably go back to bed soon and make sure he knows how much I appreciate that), and who will realize that when I'm complaining to him about something that isn't his fault, the best solution is to listen first and offer solutions later. If I haven't explicitly asked "what should I do?", then I'm still at that point where I *know* I'm upset, and I know it's a bad idea to do *anything* whilst upset. Let me bitch, let me calm down, and then gently suggest a course of action.

He's working on that last bit, too. I'm really, really friggin' lucky.

[pyrephox.livejournal.com]

The first thing that attracts me to to someone is a compatible sense of humor. That gets my attention very fast. Also, honestly, I'm pretty (read, utterly) clueless about flirting, so if someone just comes right out and says, "Hey, I'm interested in you," that's about the only time I even realize that there's attraction on someone else's part.

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

Oh, dang. At first, I read that as, "a contemptible sense of humor", and I was all, "How lucky we met!" Oh, well.....

[mythdude.livejournal.com]

I offer humor, philosophy, and honest to God loyalty. Who knows, maybe I'll find someone of my own someday.

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

Nice answer. Much more eloquent than my answer to what I want would have been, but essentially the same thing :)

[lizreay.livejournal.com]

The thing that made me decide my husband was a keeper? The ability to discuss a problem with our relationship without immediately becoming defensive, blaming me, or crumbling under the criticism.

[danceswithlife]

Companionship--one of my tests of a good relationship is not having to spend three hours deciding what we want to do for the rest of the day on a Saturday morning. Enough interests different from mine that I can be exposed to new things, but openness to my interests as well.

Since I (as do many women in fandom) have a strongly out there personality, I want someone who is strong enough themselves to meet me, tell when I'm full of shit, and enjoys the times I move into being in charge for a time.

But fun together--in and out of bed--is the main thing I'm looking for.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Interesting -- but not at all surprising -- that the article also talks about the possibility of creating eggs from male stem cells, but the "female sperm" thing is getting all the attention.

[pyrephox.livejournal.com]

Probably because there's still no artificial womb design that works, so making a male egg doesn't cut women out of the reproductive cycle -- you still have to find a surrogate. However, with female sperm, two women actually /can/ reproduce without any males involved at all (except at the remove of researchers, doctors, etc, and even then, it could theoretically be females all the way).

[ashnistrike.livejournal.com]

*sigh* This lady would like the remainder of her fertile period not to fall into that frustrating period when it is technically possible, but not affordable or practical, for her to have a kid with her wife. Or at least for journalists not to whine that it would somehow be "unethical" if she could.

[isolde-deely.livejournal.com]

sense of humor, good personality. Common interests. Likes cats. Intelligent.

Non smelly :)

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

I'm not looking. Even as a little girl I never pictured myself married, never played house or Barbies. I dated for 2 years 20 years ago and gave it up. Some of us are natural singletons, I think.

Without fail, the women who worry the most about my lack of a Man and Kids are the ones who complain the loudest among themselves about their useless husbands and their rotten brats. Trapped mammoths who only stop trumpeting for help long enough to smile at me and say "Come on in, the tar's fine!"

[ladypoetess.livejournal.com]

Might I suggest http://www.asexuality.org/ ? I found it to be a source of much information, and welcoming people who feel much the same way.

[mouser.livejournal.com]

Pshaw! Like this would ever... (http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=952)

Honey? Where'd you get a spear?

[madrona.livejournal.com]

This is an old retread.
I've already taken men out of my reproductive cycle.
(http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/elefarea/?action=view&current=ortho-tri-cyclen-lo-image05.jpg)

Somehow, I still want them around.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Call me fishbike.

[ladypoetess.livejournal.com]

I have 4 long term relationships, and each offer me something different. Overarching them all is an acceptance of who I am, and of not asking me to change the core of myself to accommodate them.

The things that are important to me in a male-type personage (as this question is about) are as follows:

• Someone who will be polite and courteous - basically act like a gentleman.
• Someone who will help me with things when they get to be too much for me - lifting heavy stuff, taking over the dishes when it is obvious my back/knees are hurting too much to continue standing, etc.
• Someone who will also let me do things my own damn self when I want to - offering help is lovely, but if I indicate that I would rather do something on my own, leave me be and let me do it!
• Someone who will do sweet things for me - bring me flowers, set up the bathroom for a relaxing bubble bath for me, make a cup of tea for me, etc. - and who does these things just to see me smile, not because he wants something from me (like sex).
• Someone who will support my dreams and goals, will urge me on when I lag behind on them, but who won't try to make me feel guilty if I fail.
• Someone who can have a disagreement with me, and do it in such a way that neither of us feels as though we need to defend against a personal attack or general asshole-ish behavior.

I already have much of this in my life, and I am a blessed woman for it.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[filkferengi]

When my husband & I got together, all we had in common was food & humor. After 20 years together, we've concluded that you can build a pretty good life based on those. Since my spouse is a major filkertom fan, it's a good life with an excellent soundtrack. ;)

[bardicwench.livejournal.com]

I'm looking for someone who can make me smile and laugh. Someone with a sense of humor who can tease me and be teased in return. Someone who accepts me for the geek I'm proud of being, and who can actually hold an intelligent conversation. Someone who allows me to be ME and who can be themselves around me.

The scary thing is that I think I found it. I'm no longer looking.

[tomreedtoon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, right. I studied the greatest comedians of my generation, developed a great love of humor, and practiced it, and women still run screaming at the sight of me. "I want a man who can make me laugh"? Go peddle those papers to Ladies Home Journal, the only people still buying that malarky.

As it is, the fact that I have not bred, and am unlikely to, is probably the greatest blessing I can offer womankind.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Kindness, consideration, intelligence, humor, respect. Check. :-)

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

Allow me to answer on behalf of the women, as to find even a shred of honesty among them is as rare as rocking horse manure;

[catnip13.livejournal.com]

Y'know, it's funny. I've often joked with my husband of almost 9 years that he is everything I ever dreamed of, except rich. And then I realize that if I had to pick one thing on the list of qualities I am looking for to dump off the list, the money is the one to go. The only reason I wish we had more money is so that he wouldn't have to work so much overtime and we could spend more time together. So there. :P

[jannyblue.livejournal.com]

Most guys know about the female "requirements" of love, kindness, respect, give chocolate when she's PMSing, intelligence, money, decent job, reliable/cool car, sense of humor, and all the other things women always say they want.

I've learned that realistic expectations (from BOTH parties) and honest communication are also crucial. (no surprises there)

However, the one thing I was surprised to learn is critical to the health of my relationships is this:

Compatible libidos.