Ladies in the Mancave

Dear Gentlemen,

Although my detached garage is clearly marked "Man Cave," women do not hesitate to enter and help themselves to a brew or two. Although they are welcome, my question is: Should they be subject to the normal mancave rules?

Gentlemen of course just know the rules, but just in case a lady decides to stick it out after a few cigars are lit, I want to know what is expected of me as a gentleman.

Best Regards,
KC Mancave

Dear Mr. Mancave,

I applaud your desire to keep Mancave Rules consistent, even among the women in your life who enter the cave. But let’s be honest, no woman will honor the rules of a mancave. You remind me of a early native American tribe debating what rules it should impose on the white man.

Instead of focusing on how you will behave around a woman in your Mancave, you need to focus instead on survival. If you want to keep your cave a place of masculine reprieve, you need to convince the invading force that there is nothing worth taking there. Make your reservation appear a barren land, desperate and unpleasant. Notice that stories about hunting are cold and wet and pre-dawn and generally miserable and only men do it; whereas golf is beautiful and pleasant. And now everyone plays golf.

To answer your question, a gentleman is considerate of women in nearly every scenario. And so women do not have to follow mancave rules, or even put up with standard mancave behavior. But they shouldn't be invited, either. And it's less controversial and more gentlemenly if the cave itself does the uninviting. So keep your cave properly Spartan, unpleasant and masculine. Then, a proper lady will allow you and your brothers a place to be men – while she enjoys some time without you, and your “rules.”

Judiciously,

The Gentlemen