The list does not claim to be comprehensive. The categories and tips for spotting them were all made or suggested by the women interviewed for the survey. The twenty women were between the ages of 35 and 47 and all had just got back from the pub.
Good Men
These are not that common. They include men that “set store by family” but are not “mother-fixated”, men who are naturally good mannered, men who are protective of women and children (but not overly protective or fixated). Good men are loyal and generous and see women as their equals. Tips for spotting good men: They can often be spotted by the “kind twinkle” in their eyes and their propensity for “liking to make you laugh your socks off”. Good places for meeting good men are supermarkets, libraries and educational establishments, particularly universities. Bad Men
Bad men are bullies and usually socially inadequate. They can present as shifty but equally (unfortunately) they can disguise their nastiness with bravado that can be mistaken for niceness. They are completely selfish and will neglect children and animals as required to benefit themselves. They have criminal and dysfunctional predatory characteristics in extreme cases. Tips for spotting bad men: Normally there will be someone in their past who knows how nasty they can be. If they have family but never see them it is more than likely that they are bad men. Often they do not vote or know anything about politics. They do not care about society or environmental issues. More likely right than left wing but even “woolly liberals” can be bad men. Ugly Men
Ugly men have characteristics which, surprisingly, are often appreciated by the women surveyed. Indeed “uglies” (as they are widely known) are usually preferred to the Adonis types. Overly good-looking men were often to be found under the Bad Men category. Men with big noses were especially prized by one respondent, while others found “weak eyes”, “pot bellies” and “gangly legs” to be completely acceptable. Tips for spotting ugly men: There are no standard tips for spotting ugly men as ugliness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. (Four out of the twenty women interviewed had actually settled down with men who were not traditionally good looking but who they had grown to find more attractive over the years). Immature Men
Rather than a type, this “immature men” category is normally merely a stage of evolution in the development of the types. The best tip offered by the women was not about how to spot them (they are very self-evident) but how to handle them. This was, by all means get to know them and stay in touch but leave it a good five years before considering having a relationship with immature men. Tips for spotting immature men: Childish behaviour, obsessive flirting, completely undependable. Immature men pull faces, brag and are usually disorganised. Cynical Men
Cynical men sneer, complain and unfavourably compare anything and everything. They are a pain to be in the company of. Tips for spotting cynical men: Cynical men say things like “sure” and “if you say so” and “irrelevant”. Cynical men are usually over 45.
