Hey Everyone,
We had a recent discussion about what women really mean when they say they're looking for a man to be a good provider, which was actually meant to explore the stereotype that women are only out for money.
Now it's time to check out the flip side and take a look at the counter-stereotype, that men are are only out for sex.
I've lost count of the number of times I've heard men say, "God made men visual!" But what exactly does that mean? Maybe I've just had bad experiences with this phrase, but I tend to brace myself every time I hear it, because the only way I've heard it used was as an excuse:
* (From the boyfriend who was printing out porn from the internet) -- "Boys will be boys. After all, God made us visual... no big deal."
* The profile of a guy on a Christian dating site who wrote that he was only interested in talking to "former cheerleaders, gymnasts, and women with slim, athletic bodies, because God made men visual." I'll at least give this guy points for theoretically posting an honest picture, because he was clearly at least 50 pounds overweight and had a very obvious, protruding double chin.
I wanted to write and ask him, "If God made men visual, do you think that He made women blind?"
Please note--I'm not shaking my head over the fact that he was overweight--almost everyone has struggles in that area. But what had me questioning his statement that "God made men visual" is that he clearly believed he had a God-given right to expect standards in a partner that he clearly did not meet himself.
* Another dating profile on the same Christian site in which a guy stated, "If you're the kind of girl that everyone says has a great personality, don't bother writing me. God made men visual, and so I need an exceptionally beautiful wife."
I admit that this statement about God making men visual has always made me cringe because I've never heard it said in any other context.
And so, I'm asking all the fellas (and the ladies, and everyone else) to enlighten a sister and tell us what it REALLY means when men say that God made them visual. I've given some of my own interpretations in the poll (which is anonymous and multiple choice,) but please feel free to write in your own answers as well.
I should also write a disclaimer in that I am NOT trying to bash men AT ALL, and am hoping to have a respectful discussion of a phrase I might very well be misunderstanding.
I'm not arguing that God didn't make men visual. But what I would argue is that God didn't make this as an excuse for sinful choices or a means by which to demand qualities that one does not qualify for. And I realize that not every guy who says this has bad intentions in mind.
Is there actually a positive way of looking at such a commonly-made statement?
(And for any guy who would tell me that God made men visual, I would have to counter that with, "God made women emotional.") If I would ever marry again, he would have to be someone who would already understand that just as a man would expect his visual/physical needs in marriage, he would be just as dedicated to meeting the emotional needs of his wife.)
But I could very well be wrong.
What are YOUR thoughts on the statement that "God Made Men Visual?"