Let's address these issues one at a time.
No she did not say that men MUST approach women, such a thing was generally assumed. That was the point of this article. The general assumption on which that article was built is analagous to the assumption that women MUST stay at home and look after the children. Whether it's stated or not is irrelevant, the rule was implied. That rule has (rightly) been overturned.
I'm 90% sure if a man wrote an article advising women on how to perform a behaviour to best accommodate a man - it would garner sufficient feedback from certain quarters. It may not blow up the internet, but I suspect it wouldn't make the shortlist in 'Fearless She Wrote'. You're absolutely right, those articles and books do exist and they're exactly where they belong, in the dustbin of history.
As I stated many times in this article, I actually enjoyed the work of the original author. I'm not rejecting her writing, which I think is excellent - I'm expanding the discussion. This is a thought experiment, not a rebuttal. As I said in the end of the article - which you didn't read.
And so, to draw this thought experiment to a close… I’m not sure we’ve got it the right way. I don’t think the feminist articles instructing men on how to approach women are the correct position to take.I think instructing humans on how to approach each other might be a better thought experiment. Some men are shy, some women are confident. Sometimes it’s the other way round.
So yes, I sort of agree with your rebuttal here. I often do take arguments to their extremes and I sometimes employ hyperbole to do so. This can be to test their veracity, sometimes it is to entertain. Sometimes it is a mix of the two. There's nothing inherently offensive about pulling arguments apart - and nor does either side have to be 'right'.
My own personal view. I don't care all that much about whether one sex writes instructions for the other. I only care if such things are mandated, or womandated. There is very little chance of that - but doesn't mean we can't discuss it. I'm also interested in the mixed views people have when presented by the same behaviour. See https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/domestic-violence-social-experiment_n_5398021 this for an example. I think such things are fascinating and worthy of discussion. You may disagree - and by all means write an article calling me out on your disagreement. That is EXACTLY what Medium is for. :o)
