It's really stupid, but...

[LilCerberus]

Okay, maybe the reference to The Burning Bed was inappropriate. It just seems that all through high school, more than once each year, we were always subjected to that movie or some version of it, with a male antagonist viewing the female protagonist as property or something, followed by a class discussion & so on & so forth.

As for the reference to mace & martial arts, it was somewhat popular back in the early '80s to make jokes about how conveniently women could spurn the advances of obvious dorks, weirdos & losers with a spritz of mace or a knee to the groin. An example would be the character Steve Dallas, from the comic strip Bloom County, who fancied himself a Casanova, only to end up offending every woman he met within three out of five frames.

As for being angry, yeah I was for a pretty long time, but what I started feeling back in November was pity.
No, really; pity. That's what's so stupid about this.

It's like when you see those ads to sponsor a needy child oversees, or when you see a little old lady getting mugged, or you give a buck to some wino on the street, or even seeing pictures of Micheal Vicks' dogs. There's things even the meekest of individuals can do, but you really wish you could save them, all of them.

So, what could it possibly be that women these days need rescuing from?
That's what make it so stupid.

[RCMerchant]

Ok...now keep in mind that this advice is coming from someone who is very likely border line mental...(really)...
Back in High School,and into the early 80's I was so shy of people beyond my circle of freinds that I found it terrifying to even leave the house beyond going to work. I had an extremly low self image of myself. I was only 5'2 ,and looked so young as to pass for a 13 year old. Not someone girls were attracted to.
  In 84 or so...I went to NYC...and found it nessacary to be VERY vocal-and fell into the habit of saying exacly what was on my mind...it would sometimes just fall out of my mouth-even to the point of being downright rude or bizzare. (This trait gained me lots of freinds among the punk rockers and metal heads-go figure.) ANYWAY-the point of this is that I found myself attracing women by it. I even got -(gasp!) LAID.
  I'm not sure what it all means...but like Menard said-be confident-and more so,be HONEST. With yourself...and with others. If a girl rejects you-and it p**ses you off-tell her! If a girl is talking about something with you-like how her boyfreind is a slob or a jerk-ask her-or tell her!-'But he's your boyfreind! Why? If it bugs you so much...what's up with that? '

 I dunno...but remember this.... marriage is over-rated ! Once you get married,you get laid even less....
( I can't believe I'm giving out dating advice....! I'm a geek!)

[Jack]

The world according to Jack:

Basically, I find there are two types of women - those who you are attracted to, and those who are attracted to you.  These two groups rarely overlap, except in the movies.  So, you've got a choice:  1)  Chase after the woman you're attracted to.  These women will tear out your heart, throw in in the dirt, and chuckle at how long it continues to beat.  She'll always be on the prowl for somebody she's attracted to, so that will make your life even more hellish.  Then there's group 2)  the ones who are attracted to you.  They may not be exactly what you're looking for, maybe they're just cute and not gorgeous, maybe they're not the "life of the party", they may not treat you great (though they might) but here's the cool thing:  If you have a heart-to-heart about how their endless nagging might be "driving you apart", they actually respond and cut down on the behavior quite a bit.  Because they don't want to lose you.  Also, these girls will actually have sex with you - while sober - unlike the ones you're attracted to.  And over time you can develop a deep friendship and have a partner to keep you company throughout your life.

Teenage years are for chasing after type 1, grown up years are for settling down with type 2.  Then you can chuckle about how the type 1 girl got divorced from the guy she dumped you for and, together with her three kids, moved back in with her mom and dad.

Yeah, it may not fulfill all the dreams you had when you were sixteen, but what the hell do ya think this is, a romance novel or something?   

[Rev. Powell]

Lil' Cerb:  If I'm reading you right, you're saying you feel guilty for denying the women of the world something that they need--you.  And you think this is stupid, because what could modern women need from you?

I think you're right--that's a stupid reason to feel guilty.

But since you are feeling guilty, maybe it's not because you sense you are denying women something they need.  Maybe you're feeling guilty because you're denying YOURSELF something YOU need. 

I think that's why most people skipped over the question of guilt and started offering you dating advice instead.   

I'm not preaching (off duty right now).  I'm pretty much in the same boat as you.  I'm about the same age, still single, and not actively looking for a relationship right now.  The only difference is, I'm not feeling any guilt about my situation right now.  If I were, I would take steps to make myself feel better.

Hope everybody's advice helps you.