There is ONE place in town where a guy can go in and sit for a couple of hours and BS waiting for a taper cut.
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.
An acute analysis. Guys of a certain age need to travel back in time and thank the hapless Jimmy Carter for eliminating the 3 martini lunch. Things went to crap after that.
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.