Following up on Frank's claim that guy's nights out aren't over just because you've become a dad, I'd say it's highly important for men - and women - to have guy's/girl's nights out every now and then, regardless whether they’re parents. Since I've been part of both camps, I'll share some thoughts on the subject.

Guy's night out

I summon all my male friends, except the uber-soft guy I studied philosophy with last year, and book three hours on a public sauna. If you book the last hour, you can circumvent the time limit and basically hang out there all night, which is what we always do. I make sure I have at least two beers for each person, and possibly some Russian vodka for the unlucky ones who've got a cold (not recommended).

We hang out at my place some hour before, debating politics and mocking the latest fruit cake in the media. The conclusions are always the same: leftism doesn't work, we need guns to protect ourselves against idiots, and Czech beer is uber. We drink one or two of those beers and share some laughs. No one talks on the cell phone the whole time and there's generally no talk about women.

Then it's sauna time for as long as we can withstand. I'm usually the last one out, but there's no real pressure to try to play macho by sitting there for hours without taking at least one cold shower. Sauna baths are great in that each person is focused on simply sweating, but can talk with the others whenever he wants to. There's no social pressure and you can be quiet for 30 min without anyone giving a damn. It's a comfortable environment. This is where you discuss women, job-related issues, and non-safe jokes about minorities.

Afterwards everyone is usually too tired to go out to a pub, but if it happens, it usually means another beer or drink at a local establishment, and then splitting up in the middle of the night. Rarely do other people join a guy's night out who weren't invited--if they do, you want to know who they are and what they're all about. If good-looking but unknown ladies stand outside the sauna and ask to join, they're never allowed in. A guy's night out is a closed circle of good friends meeting up, period.

Girl's night out

Girls start the evening by frantically sending text messages all over the place, and suddenly 4+ women are chatting away insanely on a quiet restaurant or bar where there's not too much noise. They immediately begin discussing relationships and update each other on the slightest odd or happy scene: "I saw Marcus water my plants last night. No, seriously, he did!" "OMFG, that is so rare. Did he overwater them" "Of course, what did you think?" They never keep their cell phones more than one metre away, to make sure they don't miss out on an extremely funny message.

A lot of girls usually start with something finer like red wine, and will only drink beer later into the night when they've entered a real pub where there's noise and socialization. They change the subject often and a long period of silence means death. Talk, always. They want to go crazy when their boyfriends are not around, so they gladly freak out on soft things like spilling a glass of wine or messaging the wrong person with personal information. They have no real plans about where to go next, but decide later once the place they’re in gets boring.

They increase the socialization level by ending up at some club, where they possibly rendez-vous with more people. Some want to dance and release energy, others sit quietly somewhere with the cell phone. Discussions usually become intensive rants no one can keep track of. They've swept personal information, so now they just want to have a good time. The night ends when they feel exhausted, either by too much talk or too much moving--or both.

Learn to enjoy both

Joining a girl's night out is chaotic, random, and exhaustive. Any guy who pretends it's like hanging out with his male friends doesn't know what he's talking about--or he's got weird male friends. But there is a charm in joining a social circle only comprised of females. Just make sure you take a dominant position quickly and shout some, or else you'll never be heard during the entire evening (unless someone asks you to say something, which they usually do out of group sympathy). Be entertaining and softly assertive.

If I want to chill out with friends, I summon my male friends. There is no bullshit and minimal randomness. In fact, we plan pretty much everything, and enjoy hanging out while engaging in some light physical activity like walking/biking or visiting the sauna. Even cooking works, especially if you mix guys and girls. Girl's night out kills me, but it's hilarious. Guy's night out is however what I really prefer and I think most men agree.