With which phrase do you identify the most?

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"men and women"

or

"men vs. women"

I'm just curious about how we primarily view the nature of the genders: as complementary, or as adversarial.

My theory is that discord between the sexes has been hyped, so that it is over-reported. How many people would feel fascinated to read an article entitled, "Man Gets Along with His Wife"? I think reports of discord sell more than reports of harmony, so that the news media and entertainment industry almost continually present a picture of the whole world falling apart. Meanwhile, most of us are sitting around wondering why we don't see this endless tragedy in our daily lives.

I just barely even read the news anymore, because it presents the world as a series of flaming craters and black smoke, not the reality I wake up to and experience every day. I think it's just shameless sensationalism -- the media profitting through tragedy to such a degree, that tragedy always gets top billing among the choices of stories to report (by news media), or represent (in television and movies).

Alarmism is always the quickest and most reliable way to get the public's attention. So, that, in turn, is what sells, and therefore it's what we see, hear, and read from the vast majority of media sources. How often has a news article not lived up to its catchy title? Much of the news is just bait-and-switch trickery, so I'd rather consider the reality I see with my own eyes in everyday life as the "news", and the news media as people who mostly just want to cash in on their ability to overdramatize stories.

I just barely even read the news anymore, because it presents the world as a series of flaming craters and black smoke, not the reality I wake up to and experience every day. I think it's just shameless sensationalism -- the media profitting through tragedy to such a degree, that tragedy always gets top billing among the choices of stories to report (by news media), or represent (in television and movies).

“You know my problem, I watch too much news, man. That’s why I’m so depressed all the time - I figured it out, I watch too much CNN, man. I don’t know if you’ve sat around and watched CNN for more than say, twenty hours in one day…I don’t recommend that. Watch CNN Headline News for one hour, it’s the most depressing thing you’ll ever f'n do. ‘WAR! FAMINE! DEATH! AIDS! HOMELESS! RECESSION! DEPRESSION! WAR! FAMINE! DEATH! AIDS! HOMELESS!’ Then you look out your window: (sfx:crickets chirping). Where’s all this happenin’? Ted Turner’s makin’ this up, man!”
- Bill Hicks, 1961-1994

Alarmism is always the quickest and most reliable way to get the public's attention. So, that, in turn, is what sells, and therefore it's what we see, hear, and read from the vast majority of media sources.

As a thirty-year veteran of the broadcast industry, I can tell you unequivocally that the motto of the television newsroom is “If it bleeds, it leads.” Accidents, death, dismemberment, chaos, riots, looting, shooting, father-rapin’, mother stabbin’, blood ‘n’ gore ‘n’ guts ‘n’ veins in your teeth (to quote Arlo Guthrie), the more horrible the incident, the closer it gets to becoming the lead story, and if it involves horrible things happening to children, Oh Glory Day! Just think of the ratings! People will be ga-luuued to their sets! And just to make sure they tune in again tomorrow, let’s make them think THEY MAY BE THE NEXT TO SUFFER! Thankfully, I spent most of my years in the business as a radio DJ, but seeing that kind of callous opportunism practiced on a daily basis can’t help but leave you bitter and cynical, and I think that’s how it’s affecting society at large.

How often has a news article not lived up to its catchy title?

So far today I’ve heard both the CBS news crew and the local affiliate, use the phrase “a grim milestone in Iraq” five different times, and I’ve only been in the room where the television is a grand total of thirty minutes. Jeesh, enough already, point taken, but the brainwashing isn’t working on me.