The Summer of Chuff 2015

[Nephasth]

My entire house is specifically for my own use. And it is glorious!

[yotsuya]

Mancave sounds so uncouth.  And I'm all about that couth.

[Slippyblade]

I'm with LeChuck.  My room is known as "The Cave".  I guess you could call it "The Hobbit Cave", or "The Gnome Cave"...

Hobbits and Gnomes are where my name comes from, just so ya know.

[dkersten]

Hell, at least men with mancaves have seized back some small portion of their homes for their own use.

I'm with Le Chuck on this one.  Anyone who has been married for a long time understands how women will take over the house, declaring each and every room for themselves (or for the kids), not leaving any space for the man.  Usually they end up "conceding" to give the man a space in the garage or a dark and musty basement - both places they won't go and no guests will inadvertently see.  Hence the term "cave".  It ends up being a place men can be comfortable in.  Not a formal living room without a television (wtf), not a dining room, kitchen, clean bathroom, or bedroom, but a LIVING space that has everything a person who doesn't care about fashion, décor, or impressing the neighbor ladies would want in a room.  Usually the women of the house are ashamed of it.

At the same time, however, the term gets overused.  If you are simply converting a room into an arcade, it isn't a "man cave", it's just a game room.  If there is a lot of natural light in the space, it certainly isn't a cave, and if it's in any of the main living space, it definitely isn't "man cave" material.  Hell, if it is decorated with style, it isn't a man cave. 

It took me several years to convert my home back to what I wanted after my divorce.  For nearly 20 years I had been conditioned to just expect to make the house the way SHE wanted it, and at first any changes I was making were difficult to make without input from a woman.  Then I got in the swing of it and started redecorating for ME.  I don't need a man cave because the whole house is mine to do what I please.  I built a 300 sq ft game room out of the back porch.  I converted the basement family room into a theater room.  And the rest of the house is set up the way I like it, even if some women walk in and shake their head.  (Actually aside from comments like "masculine", most women are impressed with my house, and quite surprised that a man would be capable of designing, building, and decorating rooms the way I did.  Of course if any of them ever moved in with me they would be changing things, lol)

[Le Chuck]

We park in driveways and drive in parkways, why can't mancaves have nice natural lighting?  Before mancaves we had dens yet nobody was birthing litters in there.  Don't let the literal make you her ---smurfette---.  It's a word, its easily understood, and for those that have one it is enjoyed I'm sure.  I don't have one but I do have a workroom/labratory/studio that is commonly referred to as a garage - only cars aren't allowed.  I still call it a garage tho.  I just don't get the anxiety over the term - I mean, if you showed a picture of it to 10 people would 6 of them call it a mancave?  Who're we trying to fool here?   

[BadMouth]

"mancave" in my mind conjures images of a roman bath type setup where misogynistic men hang out and complain to each other.
 

[pbj]

I think the trick is just to move into a bigger house... I've got games in a bedroom, the den, and my garage.....

[Malenko]

Mancave sounds like a dude's butthole.


My mame cab is in my living room, right next to my wifes touch screen bartop.

[HaRuMaN]

My biggest factor when we bought our house was that I had to have own space.

I should have specified downstairs, but that's my fault...   

[yotsuya]

I have my own space. Just don't call it a mancave. It's a stupid word.

Dude comments on a word, other dudes start writing NO MA'AM manifestos...

[Malenko]

I have my own space. Just don't call it a mancave. It's a stupid word.

Dude comments on a word, other dudes start writing NO MA'AM manifestos...

Dont you ---smurfing--- DARE try to imply that dk is somehow in the same league as Al Bundy. He scored FOUR touchdowns in a single game while playing for the Polk High School Panthers in the 1966 city championship game versus Andrew Johnson High School, including the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds against his old nemesis, "Spare Tire" Dixon!

[Howard_Casto]

Damn straight.  Al's a real man to which none of us can compare.

Seriously though, man cave is a product name, it was conjured up for marketing reasons.  It was a company that hosted "Tupperware parties for men", selling over-priced nick-knacks and condiments all under the disguise of "male pride" that coined the phrase.  To use the term gives such a shady business validity.  Grown-ass men aren't forced into one room in the house and even if they are, unless they are really unhealthy it shouldn't be a he-men woman haters club, no broads or kids allowed, which is what man cave sounds like. 

As it should though because it was conjured up to make men a "brand" because men like football and nascar and air hockey because we are eternal frat boys.  All men like that stuff, no exceptions, according to them.  What about women and children?  Well they just aren't manly enough to understand.

I think maybe people don't know the origin of the word and maybe that's why they use it, but it's a marketing campaign.  To me an actual human being using that term sounds like some guy walking around exclaiming how he's gonna "Do the Dew" for lunch.... utterly ridiculous. 

I don't remember the name of the company anymore, they are probably out of business by now, but we need to nip this in the bud people.  There are plenty of valid words... play room, rumpus room, den, home theater, game room....ect  let's not use the one that helps some ---meecrob--- sell 45 dollar hot sauce and 400 dollar rims...to hang on your wall.... okay?

[pbj]

Seriously though, man cave is a product name, it was conjured up for marketing reasons.  It was a company that hosted "Tupperware parties for men", selling over-priced nick-knacks and condiments all under the disguise of "male pride" that coined the phrase. 

You know, when you're going to go around telling people how they're idiots and it's time for you to drop some truth on them.... you might want to get your facts straight.

[Howard_Casto]

I didn't tell anyone they are idiots and my facts are straight. 

[pbj]

Then, by all means, show us your primary sources that demonstrate that mancave was invented as a marketing term by a company looking to shill decorations and condiments.

[Le Chuck]

I heard it was coined by the same guy that wrote, "Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars" about an area for men to unwind and process the day's inputs. 

[Howard_Casto]

Then, by all means, show us your primary sources that demonstrate that mancave was invented as a marketing term by a company looking to shill decorations and condiments.

I can't scoop out my own brain and recall a tv special I saw on it 15+ years ago, sorry.  I don't have to prove everything I say.  If you don't trust me that's your own loss. 

Le Chuck:  That could very well be true.  I just know that there was a company that was actively pursuing a copyright on the term, used it in their parties to sell crap, and claimed that they came up with the concept.

[pbj]

Yes, Howard, we saw that same episode of Penn & Teller, too.

[BadMouth]

This thread is running out of Chuff.

[yotsuya]

This thread is running out of Chuff.

[yotsuya]

Can we just all agree that, whether or not you have a PROBLEM with the term, that "mancave" is a stupid ass word?

[yotsuya]

9. Man-cave

Origin: The origin of this phrase is not entirely clear. Some say it was born of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray. In the book, Gray discusses the propensity of men to "retreat" to their caves, or safe havens, to sort out their problems.   

Why it sucks: Man-cave is less a word and more a marketing term, created to sell pool tables and sports memorabilia to guys who feel they need a masculine refuge from their nagging wives. Here's a fun statistic: 90 percent of people who see my home office call it my man-cave. It being in an attic and full of vintage paperbacks and computer equipment, I don't know what makes it a cave, or manly. Here's another statistic: I don't live in a damn cave. 

[yotsuya]

Oh, and finally, if some ---uvula--- builds a 46" wide 4 player cabinet with a USS Midway control panel and angled LED joysticks and calls it "The Mancade", I'm gonna mancave his skull in.

[Le Chuck]

Can we just all agree that, whether or not you have a PROBLEM with the term, that "mancave" is a stupid ass word?

[Slippyblade]

Well, I'm chuffed about my new soldering iron.  Got a thread going discussing the model, but it's a Hakko 888-D.  Super happy with it, the damn thing laughs at all this lead free solder I'm having to remove.

[yotsuya]

Can we just all agree that, whether or not you have a PROBLEM with the term, that "mancave" is a stupid ass word?

Epic fail, brah. Our bromance might be over.

[Le Chuck]

Can we just all agree that, whether or not you have a PROBLEM with the term, that "mancave" is a stupid ass word?

Epic fail, brah. Our bromance might be over.

Oh please, you know you love me.  Now if you'll excuse me I have go make a large custom Male Hominid Subterranean Dwelling sign for my private space. 

[Nephasth]

Can we just all agree that, whether or not you have a PROBLEM with the term, that "mancave" is a stupid ass word?

Epic fail, brah. Our bromance might be over.

Oh please, you know you love me.  Now if you'll excuse me I have go make a large custom Male Hominid Subterranean Dwelling sign for my private space.

The Wang Bunker?

[yotsuya]

Oh please, you know you love me.  Now if you'll excuse me I have go make a large custom Male Hominid Subterranean Dwelling sign for my private space.

When I hear the term Mancave, I feel like I should be drinking an IPA and downing wings with Guy Fieri wearing some shirts with ---smurfing--- FLAMES on them, bro. To me, this is a mancave:

[yotsuya]

[Vigo]

Oh please, you know you love me.  Now if you'll excuse me I have go make a large custom Male Hominid Subterranean Dwelling sign for my private space.

When I hear the term Mancave, I feel like I should be drinking an IPA and downing wings with Guy Fieri wearing some shirts with ---smurfing--- FLAMES on them, bro. To me, this is a mancave:

pfft. Seahawks fan, go figure.

[yotsuya]

My biggest factor when we bought our house was that I had to have own space.

I should have specified downstairs, but that's my fault...   

That's a dudeloft if I ever sawed one.

[BadMouth]

Oh please, you know you love me.  Now if you'll excuse me I have go make a large custom Male Hominid Subterranean Dwelling sign for my private space.

When I hear the term Mancave, I feel like I should be drinking an IPA and downing wings with Guy Fieri wearing some shirts with ---smurfing--- FLAMES on them, bro. To me, this is a mancave:

Both the description of activities and pic are close to myself and my friends' home bars.
None of us would ever use the phrase man cave.
My place wasn't quite that motorcycle centric.

I decided that I like making stuff more than partying, so converted it into a workshop.

[dkersten]

Oh please, you know you love me.  Now if you'll excuse me I have go make a large custom Male Hominid Subterranean Dwelling sign for my private space.

When I hear the term Mancave, I feel like I should be drinking an IPA and downing wings with Guy Fieri wearing some shirts with ---smurfing--- FLAMES on them, bro. To me, this is a mancave:

pfft. Seahawks fan, go figure.

And he likes Coors Light.  That's a chick beer, lol.  Real men drink Bud Light.
(you craft beer snobs might want to find your ironic glasses and turn on your record players while considering a response  )

Everything in that room is something a "real woman" wouldn't allow in any room of the house where one of her girlfriends might see it.  And if you happen to be "lucky enough" to marry a girl who likes games and sports, hang on because in 10 years you will be coming home from work, getting her a beer, and being told to start a load of laundry before cooking dinner while she watches the game. 

And I find it quite ironic that a bunch of Arcade gamers are arguing about the term.  Call it what you want, the stereotype fits all of us perfectly.  How many married men here had to ask their wife for permission to build/buy/restore and arcade cab?  If you raised your hand, your man card is down in the basement next to your favorite recliner.

[BadMouth]

And he likes Coors Light.  That's a chick beer, lol.  Real men drink Bud Light.
(you craft beer snobs might want to find your ironic glasses and turn on your record players while considering a response  )

I take offense while drinking an IPA from my new mug made from an ox horn.
I'm glad the IPA craze is over and I'm not a fan of IPA's, but I needed something strong to stand up to the wet cow taste the horn imparts before it's been used enough to be seasoned.

Of course, both coors and bud light taste like wet cow water to begin with. 

[yotsuya]

"Man card" is another term that belongs in the "mancave". 

[Malenko]

How many married men here had to ask their wife for permission to build/buy/restore and arcade cab?  If you raised your hand, your man card is down in the basement next to your favorite recliner.

If she has to ask me for big purchases, I have to ask her. Its called mutual respect and compromise. My MAME cab is in my living room but our bedroom is painted dark purple. I'll take what I can get.

[pbj]

Got new carpet 10 weeks after the last one was ruined by all the rain.

Promptly had party.

I found out it's cheaper to get wings from the Chinese place down the street rather than cooking them myself.



So my fridge is packed with those.

Hopefully I get air conditioning back today.   

[yotsuya]

Any of you Canucks have a line on a Boler Travel Trailer?  I know someone who would pay good $$$ for one.

[vwalbridge]

How many married men here had to ask their wife for permission to build/buy/restore and arcade cab?  If you raised your hand, your man card is down in the basement next to your favorite recliner.

If she has to ask me for big purchases, I have to ask her. Its called mutual respect and compromise. My MAME cab is in my living room but our bedroom is painted dark purple. I'll take what I can get.

+1 Malenko. If there is one thing I have learned. A happy wife is a happy life.