Peter Gleeson: Who’d want to be a young bloke these days

A few beers, a dance and a passionate embrace has been replaced by the age of the sex contract. Seriously, why are we letting these crazy Lefty zealots run our lives, asks Peter Gleeson.

Who’d be a young bloke these days, trying his luck in the romance stakes?

A few beers, a dance and a passionate embrace has been replaced by the age of the sex contract. Seriously, why are we letting these crazy Lefty zealots run our lives?

Next they’ll be telling us the children’s classic, Bluey, lacks diversity. Oh, sorry, they already are.

Last week in this column I spoke of how sexual consent laws were being tightened to such an extent that a man and woman almost had to strike a pre-intercourse agreement to “enthusiastically embrace’’ the act of sex before they copulate.

If you think it’s a romance killer, this is the new sexual revolution.

It’s all about protection - of a very different kind. After being inundated last week with emails suggesting this battle among the sexes had gone too far, there was one that landed in the inbox that I just have to share.

It came from a young Aussie chap living in the United States, who had been dating a beautiful lass for about a month.

They were getting on like a house on fire and he was looking forward to seeing how the relationship developed.

Until he received an 800-word document – titled “please review the attached contract document’’ - outlining our young woman’s expectations. Here we go, with apologies to Dr Phil.

The contract referred to a once a week “quality time’’ visit, in alternate geographical locations, and includes what activities would either person “tolerate’’ during that visit.

“For example, watching football on TV doesn’t interest or excite me but because you like it, I’m willing to participate,’’ she said. The contract talks about how much time together is too much, or too little, such as “fear of being smothered, or fear of being abandoned’’.

“What makes you feel like a priority?’’ the contract says.

“What happens if you no longer feel like a priority.’’

Under the heading “communication’’ our young lass talks about “words of affirmation’’ – what when and how much? “How come we sometimes don’t “connect’’ – is it cultural, fear based, distraction, boredom, etc,’’ she says. “What do you consider “cheating’’. What makes you insecure and uncomfortable.’’

She then asks how can she “inspire you’’ and how do you think “you can inspire me to be a better person’’.

It’s then onto our “dream future’’ and attitudes to marriage, money, children, travel and even retirement.

Our California girl then talks about “spiritual wellbeing’’, diet, exercise, weed, alcohol and other substances.

It’s then onto friends and family relationships, physical touch and conflict resolution.

There’s more. Much more. Even what’s on and off the table sexually, which I’m assuming would have been a tough negotiation for our fella.

Unfortunately the pair are no longer a couple and our young Aussie businessman now carries his lawyer’s card whenever he goes to a nightclub.

Apparently these types of pre-relationship letters of demand from women are now quite common in the United States. Madness? You be the judge.

It’s certainly a long way from the days when it was a few beers, a dance to INXS and then a kiss and cuddle.

The gender war genie is well and truly out of the bottle. If you’re a young bloke now looking for romance, strap yourself in. It’s going to be a wild ride.