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I would look in a different direction over the lack of male relationships in today's world. A group more culpable than homosexuals is (or was, I do not know if they still exist) Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Think back to our fathers time. Back in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s guys would stop in the local tavern and shoot the breeze with their friends before dinner. The pubs and bars have been the meeting place of guys for centuries. Today, anybody with any sense of responsibility doesn't want to take a chance that one beer might lead to their life being ruined. So instead we today head right home every day. The only interaction guys have with each other outside of work is usually through their kids sports. I had one guy I know say that without his kids games he would have no social life at all, and I bet that is true for most of the other guys too. Nobody wants to condone drunk driving, but the unintended consequences has been a complete shutting down of the traditional male’s social life. I speak from a middle age guys perspective, maybe those younger than me have made up the slack with their electronic do-dads. But I for one would have enjoyed stopping at the local tavern for a beer or two with my friends and neighbors.

This phenom has been happening before MADD, but you are correct in that there is more than homosexuality behind why men don’t bond like they used to do.

I think most of it, upon further reflection, can be traced to the rise of feminism. There used to be a time when men could be men amongst each other. They could tell dirty jokes, get jokingly physical with each other, hold each other accountable for failing to uphold and practice the masculine virtues. Society allowed males to learn these things from the crib, through males clubs like Boy Scouts, and through interactions with each other at work. There was a constant reinforcement of what it meant to be male, throughout history. However, just try to act like how men should act in society and just watch the criticism and rebuke flow.

The pubs and bars have been the meeting place of guys for centuries. Today, anybody with any sense of responsibility doesn't want to take a chance that one beer might lead to their life being ruined. So instead we today head right home every day. The only interaction guys have with each other outside of work is usually through their kids sports.

That was a very astute observation. I'm old enough to remember the old culture, where co-workers (mostly men) would often meet after work for a beer. Hell, we might tip a beer or two at lunch as well. This was actually prevalent right through the middle 1980s. Today, ordering a beer at lunch with co-workers is usually a career ending mistake.

Younger people who watch the TV show "Mad Men" cannot believe that that was how things used to be. But that is actually very close to how the workplace used to be.

The women are definitely driving most of the changes in the workplace and have produced an environment where men must walk on eggshells all the time. The women definitely have the upper hand in the workplace and due to their protected status, with respect to any sexual harassment, whether actual or perceived, they have the power to destroy the career of any man. So men climbing the career ladder must be deferential and accommodating to women at all times, as they wield immense power, no matter what their rank.

Lest my reply be seen as "women-bashing", I will say that I have had some very good relationships with women in the workplace. To the point where a few of them over the years have openly referred to me as their "work-husband", much to my co-worker's amusement and my wife's chagrin. I don't dare likewise refer to them as my work-wife as that would end my career for sure!

Have women feminized men in the workplace or merely civilized them? That is definitely a topic that is ripe for discussion.

But I do miss the old work culture where we would meet at pubs after work or share a beer at lunch. We wouldn't do it every night but maybe once or twice a week. It was a good way to relieve work tension and increase team bonding. I don't remember us ever getting too drunk to drive during those after-work sessions but in today's society, where even a drink or two can get you a life-ruining DUI, many people simply don't want to take the chance.