NationStates Jolt Archive

There are quite a few posts on here that seem to show a worrying, or perhaps rather cartoonish, version of manhood.

Considering Jesus not to be manly for not getting drunk and being pointlessly agressive was one. Also there was the idea that being firm, responsible etc were not characteristics associated with straight men.

It has also ocurred to be that most of these comments have come from US posters. It does seem US men are often offered the get out of being 'only men' and it it not a surprise that many men accept it.

I cannot agree with these posters and the idea that men are somehow immature rather lets childish behaviour off the hook. Surely there is a opint to being a man, rather than a boy, which suggests being grown up, being responsible etc. After a certain number of years you should know yourself well enough not to play up to some characterture of manliness.

Drunkedness can be youthful behaviour, as can a certain amount of violence. If men are still indulging after 25 there is surely something wrong - they have not grown up.

Isn't one of the signs of growing up also being able to recognise a joke when you see one?

I realise most of it is light hearted, but we saw it with the chap who is going on dates with an ex-flame and using the fact he is a man as an excuse not to be able to see the problem.

Being grown up is not equivalent to having a stick implanted up your ass. People that are rigidly 'non-childish' have some maturing to do imo. There's a time and place for everything, and some play time is essential.

But, even if you would put drunk and disorderly behaviour down to childishness (remind me not to meet any children you know), it certainly wouldn't let them off the hook. Because it shouldn't be tolerated in children any more than in 'grown ups' (or anything in between).

I realise most of it is light hearted, but we saw it with the chap who is going on dates with an ex-flame and using the fact he is a man as an excuse not to be able to see the problem.He didn't use it as an excuse, but as an explanation. He didn't see the problem, it wasn't pretense.

Being grown up is not equivalent to having a stick implanted up your ass. People that are rigidly 'non-childish' have some maturing to do imo. There's a time and place for everything, and some play time is essential.

True.

But, even if you would put drunk and disorderly behaviour down to childishness (remind me not to meet any children you know), it certainly wouldn't let them off the hook. Because it shouldn't be tolerated in children any more than in 'grown ups' (or anything in between).

No, but would you not expect to learn something over the years?

Being grown up is not equivalent to having a stick implanted up your ass.
Damn lying doctors! :mad:

Every post i've read on this strange 'being a man' concept has been a joke, sarcastic or just stupid. I didnt think anyone would take them seriously.

I realise most of it is light hearted, but we saw it with the chap who is going on dates with an ex-flame and using the fact he is a man as an excuse not to be able to see the problem.
He wasn't going on dates, she asked for a dance at the wedding, you're misrepresenting the issue to exaggerate.

To the initial point, I reject the notion that after 25 I have to become a stiff.

Every post i've read on this strange 'being a man' concept has been a joke, sarcastic or just stupid. I didnt think anyone would take them seriously.

Try defining what "being a man" is. It's difficult. It's easier to laugh about it.

Try defining what "being a man" is. It's difficult. It's easier to laugh about it.
It's really an outdated mode of thought, like asking what makes a 'lady.'

To the initial point, I reject the notion that after 25 I have to become a stiff.Well, not immediately afterwards, but it's rather inevitable in the long run.
Unless you die before you reach 25.

Inevitable at 25? Oh shits, looks like i've got a lot of drinking to do, and only a year for me to do it in!

Inevitable at 25? Oh shits, looks like i've got a lot of drinking to do, and only a year for me to do it in!It's inevitable from the point you're born. Of course bare in mind that 'becoming a stiff' has at least two meanings.. :rolleyes:

There are quite a few posts on here that seem to show a worrying, or perhaps rather cartoonish, version of manhood.

Considering Jesus not to be manly for not getting drunk and being pointlessly agressive was one. Also there was the idea that being firm, responsible etc were not characteristics associated with straight men.

It has also ocurred to be that most of these comments have come from US posters. It does seem US men are often offered the get out of being 'only men' and it it not a surprise that many men accept it.

I cannot agree with these posters and the idea that men are somehow immature rather lets childish behaviour off the hook. Surely there is a opint to being a man, rather than a boy, which suggests being grown up, being responsible etc. After a certain number of years you should know yourself well enough not to play up to some characterture of manliness.

Drunkedness can be youthful behaviour, as can a certain amount of violence. If men are still indulging after 25 there is surely something wrong - they have not grown up.
I agree. This is currently a problem in America because many of the "babyboomer" generation were browbeaten into thinking that behaving as a male was somehow wrong. Now their children actually seem to be ashamed of being male. I suspect this is part of the problem with more and more young men having little sense of who they are, why they're here, and how they should behave; this leads to things like not doing well in school, not being assertive about their own lives, continuing to live with mommie and daddie well into their 20s and even 30s, etc.

like asking what makes a 'lady.'

Ovaries

Ovaries

Don't animals have ovaries too?

I agree. This is currently a problem in America because many of the "babyboomer" generation were browbeaten into thinking that behaving as a male was somehow wrong. Now their children actually seem to be ashamed of being male. I suspect this is part of the problem with more and more young men having little sense of who they are, why they're here, and how they should behave; this leads to things like not doing well in school, not being assertive about their own lives, continuing to live with mommie and daddie well into their 20s and even 30s, etc.
Little boys not doing well in school has something to do with parents who discipline their daughters and let their sons run amok because "boys will be boys" more than anything.

But men do need an equivalent of the women's movement to find themselves some new identities, since they aren't the only breadwinners anymore. However, this is something men must do for themselves.

Ovaries
What about women who are born trapped in a man's body?

Don't animals have ovaries too?

Lady animals do, yes

What about women who are born trapped in a man's body?

They don't have ovaries. Therefore they are not ladies

They don't have ovaries. Therefore they are not ladies
What about women who had ovarian cancer and had them removed?

I realise most of it is light hearted, but we saw it with the chap who is going on dates with an ex-flame and using the fact he is a man as an excuse not to be able to see the problem.

Dev, mate, I am afraid our American friends might be a touch neurotic about this. They are not stupid and I am sure it is just a fad.

Your post was a tad dull though, perhaps you could set it to music!

[#Superstition - Stevie Wonder#]

Yeah, like that!

[/#Superstition - Stevie Wonder#]