[Fluorescence]

Originally Posted by suicide_circus

Cheap, it aint!

Relatively speaking Dutch Gold vs some artisan expensive Belgian beer!

[JohnMarston]

Originally Posted by Dostoevsky

Irish literature, of course. Oh to be "cool" and fit in by only have commercially popular interests...

I could the prospect of breaking from the norm terrifying most men.

[JohnMarston]

Originally Posted by fluorescence

Relatively speaking Dutch Gold vs some artisan expensive Belgian beer!

God forbid a man enjoy beer for the taste and not trying to drink their body weight in it

[Dostoevsky]

I don't like the idea of a "gentlemen's club" and this one sounds like a particularly anglocentric one which doesn't give me hope in its openness to other cultures, including Irish culture. I'm not looking for a Kildare Street Club. I doubt many other educated Irish people men will be either.

On the other hand, I really like the idea of clubs where people discuss ideas, books, philosophy and life in general. These are the sort of people I seek out in life and at social events. I love learning new things. I love reading and I find that when thoughts or ideas are verbalised they become more lucid and developed in my mind.

I can't abide commercial soccer, noisy pubs and anything which takes away from a great conversation. Rightly or wrongly I usually define great conversation by how much I learn from it, by how it enriches my life. Some of the most enriching conversations I've ever had were with well-read women, particularly conversations on language and literature, so I don't see the rational reason for creating a club like this around a "men only" policy.

Something like this club, but not like it at the same time, would be a great alternative to the sheer boredom of commercially-driven programming saturating television which as a fashion is years beyond its sell-by date.

[JohnMarston]

Originally Posted by Dostoevsky

On the other hand, I really like the idea of clubs where people discuss ideas, books, philosophy and life in general. These are the sort of people I seek out in life and at social events. I love learning new things. I love reading and I find that when thoughts or ideas are verbalised they become more lucid and developed in my mind.

I can't abide commercial soccer, noisy pubs and anything which takes away from a great conversation. Rightly or wrongly I usually define great conversation by how much I learn from it, by how it enriches my life. Some of the most enriching conversations I've ever had were with well-read women, particularly conversations on language and literature, so I don't see the rational reason for creating a club like this around a "men only" policy.

Something like this club, but not like it at the same time, would be a great alternative to the sheer boredom of commercially-driven programming saturating television which as a fashion is years beyond its sell-by date.

My thoughts exactly

[Dostoevsky]

Originally Posted by JohnMarston

God forbid a man enjoy beer for the taste and not trying to drink their body weight in it

This! And any club I would join would have to serve beer, not just wine. Preferably beer from a good micro brewery. Alas, this is the crime of wanting difference, of wanting something fresh and new, it seems.

[Fluorescence]

Originally Posted by JohnMarston

God forbid a man enjoy beer for the taste and not trying to drink their body weight in it

Which is why I said that Ireland having a social scene comprised almost entirely of get rat-faced on cheap beer is a problem, and that this gentleman's club is offering an alternative.

[JohnMarston]

Originally Posted by fluorescence

Which is why I said that Ireland having a social scene comprised almost entirely of get rat-faced on cheap beer is a problem, and that this gentleman's club is offering an alternative.

[prinz]

Too late boyos, I'm already in one. Location varies but it usually goes under the name 'a lads night'.

The gimpy clothing brigade would put me off, (really getting the picture of lads with large quiffs, dressed head to toe in pastel colours and a sweater tied around their necks called Quentin and the likes) but the idea of a social club for haning out, having a few drinks and learning something new etc is actually quite appealling.

[OldGoat]

Originally Posted by prinz

Too late boyos, I'm already in one. Location varies but it usually goes under the name 'a lads night'.

The gimpy clothing brigade would put me off, (really getting the picture of lads with large quiffs, dressed head to toe in pastel colours and a sweater tied around their necks called Quentin and the likes) but the idea of a social club for haning out, having a few drinks and learning something new etc is actually quite appealling.

There seems to be a lot of judging the merits of the club simply by the clothing choice of some of the members (or at least the jurnos depiction of).
Mind boggles at that.
Would people really turn down the chance to learn where the best Martini in the country is, or how to tie a gadfly, or how to shoot things in a field simply because someone else is wearing a football shirt? Or a pair of steel toecaped boots? Or the wrong label jeans? No because that would be ridiculous.
Like Prinz says, get past the clothing image and focus on what the club offers, something out of the ordinary.

[gosuckonalemon]

I don't think anybody disagrees with the idea of a group of lads getting together to take part in something that can be informative, educational and fun.

But it's the sheer pretentiousness and use of wording used by these two gimps that would put me off this. Or perhaps it's the journalists wording of things.

If a whiskey specialist was to give an evening whereby he gave an informative talk on the history and different types of whiskeys along with sampling then I'd be all in. However if it was in the company of the hipsters described in the article I'd give it a miss.

[smash]

If you wanted to join a club where you learn new stuff and it's not about getting locked then try this http://www.menssheds.ie/

[TheIrishGrover]

They really shouldn't have included the word "fabulous" in their article about "gentleman's club"

[The King of Moo]

Why no girls allowed?

Girls are great, generally, especially if you're on a night out and trying to have some fun.

Having a club where people do other things other than simply getting drunk? Fine, even if some of the activities wouldn't appeal to me.

Having a club where people do other things other than simply getting drunk, but it's just men sitting round talking about being men and how hard it is to be a man now and things men like and what they think men should be like and also, men, sounds a bit boring and a little immature.

They should call it "The Boys' Fort!"

[prinz]

Originally Posted by The King of Moo

Why no girls allowed?
Girls are great, generally, especially if you're on a night out and trying to have some fun.

Presumably because it would quickly descend into who's trying to get who into bed and drama. You can have great fun in mixed company, and you can have fun with the lads, but there is a different atmosphere. As I said before, sometimes there's nothing like a lads night.