I really don't think men are mean, X. I just think they like to joke around and have fun. Women get their feelings hurt much easier so compensate by building each other up.
When I read Sal's comment, I thought, 'Wow, he nailed it'.
Men are just men and women are just women. We have to understand and accept each other as we are different in many ways but have so many commonalities that just make it work.