Foot and mouth

Recent news of a Foot and Mouth outbreak in Surrey prompted a remark by a close friend. She has a long-standing friendship with a guy who owned a trucking company. Most of his business in 2001 when the horrendous Foot and Mouth epidemic devastated the livelihoods of those working in agriculture. Her friend was alarmed that he could lose everything. His business was wiped out as a consequence of the ban on transporting livestock. In a desperate move to stave off bankruptcy and protect his wife and young family, he transferred ownership of his home into his wife's name. Tragically, on his return from a trip when he was trying to drum up some business, he arrived home to find all his possessions had been dumped outside 'his wife's home'. Unknown to him, she'd been having an affair for many months. The moment the house was in her name, she threw her husband out, and her lover moved in. The husband lost everything.

The 'nice quiet guy' syndrome

I have a friend and colleague . He's a university lecturer; intelligent, articulate and used to robust thinking. When he heard about this new book, he wrote the following;
One of my friends (a really nice quiet chap) was targeted a few years ago - got married, had a kid, she kicked him out, demanded all his assets (which he gave), refused access to the child etc etc. She has just run out of money and believe it or not has now moved in with him so that he can sub her lifestyle - unbelievable!! I'll get a copy for my sons!

Why is it that the nicest, quietest, most supportive guys get abused so much?

This is one of the topics I discussed with a journalist this evening, writing for the Guardian Online. Will I be abused?I was asked if I was a misogynist? I love women. But not the nasty ones. I am passionate about helping nice, 'gentle' men from being abused by anyone who tries to take advantage of their genourous, non-confrontational attitude towards life. Some how, some women will choose to interpret this as some kind of 'attack' on all women!