Angela Philipps, Contributor

This has been troubling me for some time. Why is it that a man needs someone to 'hold his hand' when he wants to go somewhere? I don't mean that in some funny touchy-feely way. It's just that when I ask my male friends if they want to do something, they always say, "Well if the man himself is going then I'll go." Insinuating that if their 'partner in crime' comes thenso will they. It infuriates me no end. Why don?t men feel comfortable on their own In fact, they won?t exactly be alone at all. I?ll be there with my other girlfriends, and surely the thought of hanging out with a few beautiful women for a night or a weekend is enticing!

Let me give you an example. It was over the jazz and blues festival when five of us girls were renting a house on the north coast and I invited two of my closest male companions to come and stay in the extra bedroom we had. Well, one of them was very keen to join us but the other was in his 'cave-man' mood so he was not so committed.

Anyhow, Mr. Keen-o there said he?d come if the other pal were to venture across the island with him. Well, what do you think happened? They both stayed in town, of course! Listen, this has happened so many times, I?ve lost count. Boy wants to go to a party, boy calls friend to make sure he?ll be there, and when told yes he gets in his car. If the answer is no, he phones another chum and so on, until he has confirmation that he?ll have a wing man for the evening.

So, what exactly is the wing man for? Are women really that intimidating? Is it because more often than not we are in groups of at least two? Can?t a member of the male species handle more than one of us at a time? All these questions ... I?ll make a stab at guessing what the answers are, but PRETTY PLEASE, if you are in the know then feel free to enlighten me in an email!

WING MAN IS FOR:

1. Distracting the 'other' girls so that man on mission can get through with luscious lady.

2. Four eyes and four legs are better than two of each for scoping out the scene.

3. Moral support just in case one of them gets rejected.

4. 'Show' ? no one wants to be a 'Norman No Mates'!

5. Someone to talk to in case no one else will.

6. 7. Driver ? one is always hoping that the other is more sober and will drive him home.

8. Informing each other if the dancing is way off the beat.

9. Preventing inappropriate and embarrassing behaviour in general!

10. If there are two women, we are more likely to approach two men as it?s only fair that we both get one! I am sure men know this!

Are women intimidating, especially if two or more of us are together

1. Yes.

Can one man handle more than one woman at a time

1. No.

You know when I look through the list of what wing men do for each other, it does make a lot of sense to me now. It?s similar to having a dog who keeps you company at home, or a wife who tends house and hugs you up in bed. I mean, women always go to the bathroom in pairs (baffling concept to some), so why shouldn?t the lonely lad have a comrade who helps him to fly in a social scenario?

angelaphilippsja@hotmail.com