Monday, September 24, 2012

Answering the age old question...

You know, there are some things that I just assumed were always going to be a mystery.  Who built Stonehenge?  How long is a piece of string?  How did Steve Irwin get so popular?  Could a man handle childbirth?  All unanswerable questions, wouldn't you think?

At least I assumed that the question of men and childbirth was unanswerable.  After all, how the hell do you test that theory?  Get a guy knocked up?

But some clever, or perhaps sadistic, scientist has worked out how to give a man all the symptoms and sensations of going through labour, excluding the actual pushing out a human being through a hole not really sized for it.  By attaching electrodes to specific spots on the man's abdomen, they can mimic the contractions a pregnant woman has, thus finally answering the question of who has a lower pain threshold, men or women.

It's interesting though.  This bloke manages to make it through three hours of simulated labour before he throws in the towel.  Not exactly realistic I suppose, a pregnant woman wouldn't be able to just give up half way through.  But other than tying him to he bed I guess they couldn't really force him to continue.

But I thought you mothers out there would find this video very interesting ... especially as guilt trip inducing material.  It should be good for breakfast in bed for the next few weekends at the very least.



33 comments:

  1. Hmmmm, what I wonder is doesn't modern medicine have something a little more important to do? Like, I don't know, actually focusing on a condition which is actually possible?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! I'm sure there's plenty of more important things they could be doing... but are any of them as amusing? I think not! :D

      Delete
  2. It sure would solve population control issues if men had to birth our babies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hahaha, love this comment. Carve it in gold.

      Delete
    2. Birthing babies! I love that expression, we should totally bring it back!

      Delete
  3. Loved the video. If only men could experience what we go through.

    ReplyDelete
  4. hahahaha, too funny. I have heard this counter argument from them about shaving everyday, then I show them waxing and eyebrows which usually shuts them up.
    If men experience childbirth, I would loose my upperhand in any feminist related argument, I dont want them to experience childbirth I just want them to live with the mystery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Or better, play them girl with dragoon tatoo scene again and again, that should simulate the experience

      Delete
    2. I never understood how men can get worked up about having to shave every day. Let them get razor burn on their nether regions on a regular basis and then they can talk!

      Delete
  5. Why? That's all, just, why?
    "Well, now that we've cured cancer, let's get to simulating the pain of childbirth."
    "Uh, sir, we haven't cured cancer."
    "It's too late now, I've already made the test subject swallow a beach ball filled with sand."
    "Uh, sir, I'd hate to get picky, but on our 'to do' list, you have 'Simulate passing a kidney stone for women' next. Why?"
    "SCIENCE! That's why!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! When they work out how to simulate getting kicked in the goolies, then I'll be scared!

      Delete
  6. Now if only there were a way to force them to experience the roller coaster of hormones we get to experience 12 times a year. THEN we'll see who ends up a crying, blubbering mess simply because their favorite color of nail polish has been discontinued.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember reading once that men have the same hormonal levels all the time that women do during PMS. You know, that explains an awful lot...

      Delete
  7. I want to leave a snarky comment...but I'm afraid, very afraid.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What about Kindney Stones and guys? I passed my first one a couple months ago and it was the most painful thing ever! I wanted to die. Then the doctor told me that it was a really small one. Not even average size! I hope to God I never have to pass a normal one!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I thought this question was answered with the insightful Arnold Schwarzenegger documentary, "Junior." But I guess it's good to know that scientists are still hard at work out there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. While Arnie's work definitely set the benchmark, I think this one adds a real sense of terror to it.

      Delete
  10. In the full three hours, did he poo the bed? Just curious.

    Also, Steve Irwin? Because of pure concentrated awesomeness, that's why!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is awesome... Is it wrong I want to do this to my husband?

    Hugs!

    Valerie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely not! In fact, I think all men who want their partners to go through it should be willing to steal the electrodes on!

      Delete
  12. I knew there was a reason I hadn't done this yet. I'm as weak as you're average dude. Respect to all the mumma's out there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely! They deserve to be showered with praise and the chocolate of their choice!

      Delete
  13. I have had seven children and this had me cringing so much! By the end I was laughing out loud and at the same time feeling like I couldn't take any more either! Ugh :)
    (There are some tribal cultures that inflict pain on the father at the same time the woman is in child-birth - as a natural type of birth control, I think. I read of one tribe in which the man is suspended in the air with a string passed around his genitals, which is then given to his wife to yank upon when she is having a contraction! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. OMGosh loved it, although I would have loved to have seen him with those pushing contractions, you know the one's that right in the middle they yell "Stop Don't Push!" For some reason those were the one's that out of no where some bad words came! It was funny watching though! Great Post!

    ReplyDelete