Thanks!

Thank you for your thoughtful note. I agree with much of what you say. You may be interested to know that writers do not, in general, create the titles of their articles — as counterintuitive as that might be. And generally, articles are created to draw in readers. That said, I think the content of the story reflects a fairly impartial investigation of a recent overview of research on the subject. An in any case, even if the question the article poses is “Are Fathers Necessary?” the answer isn’t necessarily no.

Thanks again for writing and sharing your thoughts. I think you made some very important and astute points.

Best,
Pamela

I am a straight, white male very much in favor of women playing a greater role in business and esp. government. I’m tired of the testosterone-fueled alpha-males who promote only war and consumption. Women, by nature (Palin aside), tend to be more reasonable and pacifistic, as long as they aren’t trying to act like men in order to compete with them. This being said, it isn’t so much the content of the articles that bothers me as it is the use of such antagonistic titles and language. Such diction causes us to see each other not as fellow human beings but members of classes organized strictly by sex, race, and religion. Boundaries are drawn and sides are taken. Demographic shifts, those of sex and race, are forever sensitive. Yes, man’s role is changing, but a woman publishing an article with such an incendiary stance comes across as bitter and vindictive. Male readers, in turn, go on the defensive and battle with female readers on hate-filled message boards. This can be avoided simply by choosing to use more neutral language while still addressing the subject matter at hand.

A good example might be the white majority becoming a minority in 2030. It’s a forecast that scares many whites, especially those who have no affiliation with anyone outside the white race. But if the articles are written by Latinos and labeled, “The End of White People” or “Are White People Really Necessary?” then the fire is that much more stoked, more aggressive stances are taken, and someone stupid does something stupid. This isn’t to say that these subjects shouldn’t be discussed, but they should be done so with a better understanding of the audience so as not to appear so adversarial and alienate readers who appreciate good reporting. I understand the need for attention and readership, especially now when the future of publishing is so up in the air, but it’s important to remember that those of us who read The Atlantic are an educated lot, apt to read the articles despite the titles. Let’s leave pandering to the conservative right.

I am new at following our blog. I was actually turned on by Hamza Yusef (a great guy - so nice to my kids).

Your recent blog was very worthy and timely. I actually did get a chance to see the interview with Susan Buffet. It was simply great! Thanks for the tip.

I hope to be a repeat person to comment and your stories.

All the best,

Muke

I’m not so sure about that. I moved only to the next town over when I was an adolescent and that was a trigger for anxiety for me. My husband has a similar story, moving from the States abroad and back to the States again. Both of us came from safe and stable family environments. Now we’re contemplating a move abroad with our three young children. I have mixed feelings and it’s hard to anticipate what will be. I’m not sure this study moves me in one direction or another. (Studies in general don’t me. I’m much more moved by anecdotal evidence.)