Loyal blog reader Susan R. sent me an e-mail about my latest movie recommendation, "Brokeback Mountain." (which has been racking up award nominations left and right along with my other highly recommended movie of the year, "Capote" - not that I'm bragging) Susan R. had to round up her girlfriends to go see "Brokeback" because her husband would not have been willing to see a movie about two gay men. In fact, the whole crew of girlfriends had male family members who wouldn't see it. And today, she heard an NPR program about men refusing to see it. Far from being a personal phenomena, it's epidemic.

"Really?!" I say to her e-mail. "Fascinating! Let's chat."

I saw the movie with my husband who seemed to go willingly. It was, however, my idea. So I decided to conduct an interview via instant message. The following is verbatim.

Me: "Apparently there is an epidemic of men refusing to see "Brokeback" with their wives/girlfriends/etc. Men do not want to go to this movie. I'm blogging. I need male perspective. Did you feel apprehensive about seeing it?"

Husband: "No."

Me: "Did you feel uncomfortable at any point during the movie?"

Husband: "No."

Me: "Not even during the sex scenes?"

Husband: "Not even during the sex scene."

Me: "Any guess as to the reason behind men's vast refusal to go see this movie?"

Husband: (makes funny but inappropriate comment about male insecurity that would play fabulously on Comedy Central but I don't have near the guts to print here)

I was glad to know I hadn't hog tied my husband and dragged him into a movie he didn't want to see. But I was still left with the question, "Why is he okay with it and others aren't?" Is it purely individual, like being afraid of heights? Is it generational? My husband is in his late twenties. Susan R.'s husband in his 40s. Are most of these refusing men also of a later generation? Or is it geographical? She's in Kansas. We're in Los Angeles. Is it true that homosexuality is just not as big a deal out here, even on a personal level?

Is it all of those things? Inquiring minds want to know.

Feel free to post on the comments board.

(And, of course, you know this but I have to say it anyway: Respectful comments only. Anything discriminatory or offensive will be removed. On top of which, I would think poorly of you, take you off my Christmas card list and report you to the karma police. And who wants that?)

Can't wait to hear what you guys think.