Chaundry and Archbold

Chaundry and Archbold decide to meet over dinner, after postponing it for weeks. The two desperately wanted to discuss the other’s thoughts and views that resemble so closely to their own. After slight banter on where to eat, they decide on a small, whole in the wall pub. Upon arrival, the smiles on their faces showed the excitement of their future conversation. After ordering and the expected small talk about the weather, their day, and whatever was on the news, they got down to business.

The decline of the genders’ standards on themselves have proved to be still true, four and nine years later. Chaundry would mention that although their articles were 5 years apart, the media is still the main cause for the ever decrease in how the genders carry themselves. Archbold agrees wholeheartedly by expressing how girls these days are worse than they were when he wrote the article four years ago. Now there is twerking and more artists that walk around and are seen as “hot”. As for Chaundry, she would express how men are aspiring to be “playas” and the “Barney Stinson eternal bachelor” lifestyle. There are not enough figures out in the media that mimic the traditional masculinity of the past, just like there are not enough “pretty girls” for females all around America and the world. She does mention that although she said that, “pretty” and “hot” are all based on opinion of the individual. What one person considers and one, could be seen as the other by someone else.

Archbold and Chaudhry

Pat Archbold comes across Lakshmi Chaudhry’s ‘Men Growing up to be Boys’ article and immediately knows he must get in touch with her to discuss their similar views. He emails her a link to his article ‘The Death of Pretty’ and the two agree to meet up for coffee. It is a cold winter morning at Starbucks, the two order their lattes and have a seat across from each other. Archbold starts off by letting Chaudhry know just how much he admires her article and thoughts and agrees that men and women’s values have definitely changed over time. They talk about how the media and society has changed the values of men and women for the worse. They both agree that women of this generation idolize the ‘superstars’ for their sex appeal and strive to look like them. These women do not realize that by doing so they are teaching other little girls that in order to get a man’s attention you have to look and dress a certain way, and this is where the ball goes rolling down the hill. They both agree that the media has impacted the men of this generation and has lead them to value the wrong things. These men think buying a bottle of Ciroc or a certain body spray will get them all of the ladies. They both agree that things need to change or in the near future things will get a lot worse. Archbold and Chaudhry both had a rather pleasant discussion and felt that it was great talking to someone with such similar ideas and views. They both want to build a friendship so, they exchange numbers and agree to meet up often to discuss their views and new articles. They say goodbye and both take off on their separate ways. 

The Meeting

It’s a misting mid-morning in Connecticut. Archbold was there for a conference that he was attending. During his stay he ran into Chaudhry on the street and after much convincing she ultimately agreed to meet the next day.

That next afternoon, the two met at a place called “the cereal bar” where Archbold ordered Lucky Charms and Chaudhry had Frosted Flakes. During the meeting the two talk about many ideas like current events, soggy cereal, and then eventually talked about their articles. Chaudhry tells Archbold that men are changing dramatically especially in commitment. “I know commitment, I have a wife and 5 kids” Archbold says. Archbold tells Chaudhry how women are seeking to be “hot” instead of “pretty” when Chaudhry quickly rebuts saying that “everyone has their own opinion on prettiness”. Archbold then tells her that not all men are immature and that they are raising families and earning income.

Despite their little conflict, they did agree on one thing and that was how today’s society has both changed men and women. Chaudhry said that many men do make sacrifices for others and help out the community. She also added that men are still trying to find what it means to be a man in the 21^st century. Archbold then says that this society has changed a lot and women are changing too and even though he still disapproved of it, he did acknowledged it.

Afterwards they had to leave because they both had prior commitments they had to go to. They agreed to meet again one day.

Two authors, many ideas

        On a calm summer day in West Hollywood Pat is enjoying coffee nice vegan restaurant named “The Slaughter”; he looks up and notices Lakshmi approaching him asking to take a seat. Pat instructs her to sit then the two order. Lakshmi proceeds to make conversation about a Coca-Cola advertisement on their table.
        She makes a point on how American’s values dropped considerably since the Advertisement boom of the 1950’s touching on key points like: How if it’s Expensive, available in all sizes, running out, limited supply, shiny, slim, lightweight, convenient, collapsible, prewrapped, easy to use, & Wont tarnish, blister, crack or peel, has a lifetime guarantee people will be influenced to buy something useless and overpriced they otherwise would not need want or bother using. 
        Pat agrees with Lakshmi and goes on about how women have lost the value of innocence to try and buy into the corporate persuaded social life of younger individuals. This strikes a chord with Lakshmi; he goes into how Masculinity is being bought rather than earned in the latter twentieth and early twenty-first century with the women taking on all the responsibility while the “Masculine” Bastards sit back and take all the credit. Pat is a little unnerved by the gestures made by Lak to insult him, he then replies
  “I was just expanding on how Corporate ‘BULLSHIT’ affected aspects of life, but every time I say something about a lady to you and I’M NOT ‘Worshiping the ground she walks on because she is just a person BUT every man is a terrible misogynist dickhead who ruined the world and should be slaughtered by the pig he is’ only because every boyfriend you had cheats on you because you try to control his life and take his money!” ,
         He is cut short by Lak mentioning how even Pat is too incompetent of keeping a woman satisfied and has to take double the recommended dose of Viagra just to keep his wife from cheating on him. Pat then mummers ‘cunt’ under his breath. Lakshmi then picks up a glass of carrot juice and tosses it on Pat’s new suit while announcing to the entire restaurant that Pat wears a topee. He then sits in embarrassment while the waiter brings two plates to a table with a man covered in carrot juice angrily looking at the empty seat across from him.

Archbold and Chaudhry

Imagine it.
Archbold and Chaudhry come across each others articles as they are surfing the web for articles of similar relevance to their own. They are both intrigued by what the other has written and decide to meet. They decide to meet each other at a Panera Bread because the setting is perfect for writers. It is a beautiful evening and both are very excited to meet each other. Once they meet, Archbold being the gentlemen he (hopefully) is, holds the door open for Chaudhry as they walk into Panera. As they wait in line they have some small talk although they are both anticipating their soon heated conversation.

Once they are seated they immediately get into it. Chaudhry cannot even form proper sentences because she is speaking so quickly. Archbold begins to share his knowledge behind "The Death of Pretty". "The way I see it, girls are quickly going downhill. From what they are seeing and being told not only by just the media but their peers and families, young girls today are getting mixed signals. Their parents are instilling in their minds to respect themselves and that despite what anyone else tells them, they are beautiful inside and out. However, that is quickly going in one ear and out the other. Television and the radio are not positive influences. Young girls idolize these superstars and strive to be just like them in every way possible, because if they are doing it they obviously think they have to as well." As he speaks on his opinion of young girls being taught the wrong way to treat themselves by the television and radio, Chaudhry quickly agrees and shares her reasons why the media is generally an awful tactic to teach people things based on her article "Men Growing Up To Be Boys". She says that men are seeing the way other men act in comercials, how they have to look, smell, have a lot of money and never succumb to women in order to be considered a "man" when they really are not showing any kind of "manly" qualities at all. They seem to agree everything they each have to say and truly enjoy and value each others views and opinions although being much different people.
They agree to meet up monthly to discuss new article ideas and just to maintain their newly found friendship.

Patrick's Patties and the Gender Dilemma

It’s a warm sunny summer afternoon when Archbold decides to go grab a bite to eat. His favorite restraunt is just around the corner, so he decides to walk there. He is taking everything in as he walks to Patrick’s Patties and firmly decides that he will request to be seated outside to eat. Just as he turns the corner with the restraunt in clear view he spots Lakshmi Chaudhry. She is a short Indian woman who is very opinionated. Archbold quickly ducks behind a taller man walking the same way. It’s to late; Chaudhry has spotted him from across the street. Archbold tries to act as if he does not see her, but there is no hiding from this situation. She darts into traffic without looking both ways, almost causing a wreck, and sprints towards Archbold unharmed. Out of breathe and overexcited she shouts at Archbold “Hey, I saw you from across the street and wanted to say hi. So hi. Are you about to eat? I was going to eat also. I love Patrick’s Patties lets eat here.” Archbold forced a smile, and reluctantly agreed to allow Chaudhry to intrude on what was suppose to be a peaceful lunch outside by himself.

Chaudhry did not stop talking, even for long enough to allow her questions to be answered. A non-stop flurry of words brushed over Archbold as he disinterestedly nodded and thought to himself. The barrage of expression halted long enough for the waiter to ask what they wanted to eat, and for him to bring the two burgers to them. Meaningless small talk went on until she caught his attention at the mention of his work “The Death Of Pretty.” He knew of her work so he politely brought up a piece that closely mirrored his, titled “Men Growing Up to be Boys.” Slowly he started to become more interested in what Chaudhry had to say. Archbold began realizing just how similar the two works were. Each of their thoughts about why the opposite sex was declining in desirability came down to advertising. Both wanted the world to get back to the good days where women wanted to be pretty instead of hot, and Men to take more responsibility. As the conversation went on both realized that they agreed on every point about their gender and each other’s. The lunch ended with a pleasant exchange of goodbyes, and contact information. Archbold left having felt guilty about trying to avoid Chaudhry earlier, but was pleasantly surprised that someone with a much different background would have so many of the same views.

Who's fault is it anyways?

The stage is set; it is a lovely evening, which through strange coincidence of a blind date through peers a date is occurring. Ms. Chaudhry and Mr. Archbold sit across from each other and make very obvious observations of each other. Ms. Chaudhry is wearing an outfit that highlights her qualities of her body very well, and Mr. Archbold is wearing a suit that seems to be worn out and he seems uncomfortable in it as if he doesn’t dress up like an adult often. But what do they talk about? What are the first words exchanged?

These two authors are particular too me in that I do not believe their ideas contradict, but rather I think they are in a vicious cycle of cause and effect. Therefore I do not believe they would disagree with each other because they both make very good observations about society today. But seeing how its fair to assume both would want to be proven right I do believe arguing would be part of the situation. Ms. Chaudhry would argue that because of the growing immaturity of men brought upon by the media and what interests us today it is leading to women to have to abandon the idea of pretty in order to be able to catch a mans attention in the first place. I mean between a silky bright short red dress and a conservative outfit of a blouse and pants, which would catch most men’s attention first? Right?

Where as Mr. Archbold would counter argue that because of women’s increase in sexuality and death of innocence men are therefore abandoning old ways of commitment and settling down to try and get as many women as they can in the way they see best fit. I mean between the hot personal trainer living in an apartment who drives a mustang, and the ordinary cubicle business man with a ford hatchback who looks average but is willing to commit, who would catch most women’s attention first? Right?

I believe they would be able to have a pleasant dinner with a side of the age old blame game so many of us often play.