[smurph]

I agree that male friendship has suffered a lot over the past few decades, and the decline of overtly exclusively male organisations for adults probably has something to do with that. The only real exceptions I can think of are athletic leagues and religious activities. Basically you can play in a men's soccer league or go to a men's bible study and nobody will think it's odd or sinister, but joining an overtly male only social club will probably be viewed differently. I wonder if the guys in this article would have just joined a local lodge of some kind 50 years ago and been happy with that.

[tptacek]

You could just try sending a dude you want to get to know better a Facebook or Twitter DM suggesting a beer or two. I don't know. Maybe the "harpies" are after the men hanging out at bars where you are. That trick seems to work pretty well for me.

[internaut]

That's what it is.

It is creepy to be hyperaware of male socialization but then to be ok with women only gyms and yoga classes.

Most young men aren't interested in Church or the GAA (sporting organization) today, which leaves basically the pub, not a healthy environment in some cases, as the remaining place a male could make new friends.

Here I'll suggest something controversial (on HN) but obvious. I don't believe men have the same kind of friendships most women do. This is because for many woman in society they have a stronger connection to their family.

Friendships for men are something more, they require them in order to build cooperative things like companies.

The fact is that the majority of risky enterprises are created and led by men. I don't need to put in caveats as legally required in California /s, it is so and has been so for millennia.

Several famous entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley have said that the best people to start a company with, are people you have known for a long time beforehand. That can only mean a friend or close associate.

My question would be: Why on earth are we surprised at a decline in new business creation when the basic link that makes it work, friendship, has been under strain for decades?!