I can't believe your Oprah answers never got a comment... that was pretty good!
Thanks T1G. 
My Oprah post *did* get comments -- haloscan just shows the comments number as 0 after so much time in the archives. Boo. They are still there, though....
Found out there *is* such a thing as braille porn -- who knew?
It's like a WEDDING???
Damn... I had no idea it was THAT horrible!
The consequences for a woman who refuses to go to those stupid "parties" is that they slowly exclude you from their social group. I know that is what happens, because it happened to me. I refuse to buy their overpriced crap, and that is a huge no-no. You have to buy something, or somebody is offended. And that is fine with me. As soon as somebody has something for sale that isn't overpriced crap, I'll be the first one to have a party or go to one, till then, to heck with it. I can deal with my leper status.
Gee...why don't I have many friends...Hmmm.....
Just another reason I am happy to be a man.
I disagree with your assessment. He's referring to a pampered chef party, not a shower. Most women I know hate baby/wedding showers. On the other hand most women I know at least like going to pampered chef/candle light parties. It's like window shopping.
I still say it's the female equivalent of a gun show, hunting/fishing show, electronics expo, etc. As I guy I like all of these things and I like to go and see what is out there, I may not buy anything, but I still enjoy hanging out with the guys and checking out the new merchandise.
Hey, like I said if you "like" or are "into" whatever party item they want to sell you -- it's not so bad.
But if (like me) you are not into using a bunch of uber expensive foo- foo make up products and you are only at the Mary Kay or "spa party" to fulfill a mandated headcount, (all in the name of friendship), it's pretty excruciating.
Harvey was looking for the Social Equivalent. Guys don't generally make each other do stuff like that.
I have never heard of a "Cabelas party" or "weapons luncheon" that some guy threw at his house so all of his buddies could ohh and ahhh over a catalog and order stuff.
I think going with a buddy to a gun show or outdoors expo is completely different. And personally, I'd rather be at either one of those...
We may just have to agree to disagree... 
Yeah, the gun show analogy is different. Different because there isn't painful nut splitting pressure to buy something you don't have any interest in purchasing. From your friend. Hanging out with friends is cool, if they aren't peer pressuring the heck out of you. It makes some gals uncomfortable.
Men won't think any less of you if you go to the gun show, and not buy a thing.
And window shopping is fun *only* if you have the slightest interest in what is being sold. Just sayin!
Oh, and Richmond, the Weapons Luncheon is a great idea, put me on your invite list when you have one!
As for a make equivalent, I don't think there is one because men don't work that way. I think Richmond has it right with that.
"Men won't think any less of you if you go to the gun show, and not buy a thing."
Exactly.
Yeah Sarah, you can sit by me at the Weapons Luncheon. We can even invite Contagion! Something tells me he likes weapons....
I HATE those things. Even more, i hate those catalogues they send home from school to turn my children into little fundraisers. We have started opting out of those. I write a check for $25 to the school and a note: We have declined to participate in fundraisers.
If everyone declined to participate, maybe they would cease.
Oh I have *ranted* on fundraisers.... Bah. I am more than happy to give a little $$ but I hate the whole "sell to your friends and family" aspect...
I wish they had home gun shows and weapons luncheons!
Well, Contagion, if you ever get to Texas...
Selling Pampered Chef is putting my daughter through college and makes my car and not gas payments, as my salary with the state is taken by all other bills.
I have a few customers who don't like to go to parties either. But they like to buy what they want when they want, with no pressure. No problem - one sweet lady spend $600 the last time she called; $800 six months before that. I don't mind if she turns down all the parties she's invited to. Ladies these days will buy what they want when they want - with their own money.
Keep buying guns, hunting equipment, Nascar tickets, etc. It gives the ladies an excuss to do what they want.
Commenting by HaloScan
