Still up here, Mr gnu. It sounds like you're saying that men get a kind of trench warfare mentality about women if they have a bad experience with one (or more than one). I suppose women might develop a similar state of mind with regard to men after they have experienced a failed relationship in which they feel that they have been treated unfairly, as well.

Doesn't look too promising for the walking wounded, does it? I'm envisioning all of these barricaded men and women colliding, with their defenses all bumping and crashing into each other. It almost seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Is there any hope?