[hinckley buzzard]

The 'women like bad boys or jerks' is a strawman

Actually there is a contingent of women who are attracted to the aggressiveness displayed by rebellious guys, who like a little sense of danger in their relationships, or who are just plain dependent and mistake aggression for strength. They are the ones who grow up to marry alcoholics and abusers and such. No, it is no myth that SOME women like "bad boys."

[HitmanLV]

I agree with you and I didn't suggest it was a myth. All I am saying is that the 'nice guys/jerks' paradigm isn't productive. 'Nice guys' use it as a justification for their niceness and it assures them that even though women pass them up, they are in fact the 'better man.'

It's a horrible mindset - its a construct created to rationalize failure with women. The 'strawman' is that they pin their inadequacy on that construct to lament it, rather than take steps to change things and enjoy a good romantic relationship.

Check out my post #77 on this thread for a brief version of my position on the matter.