Manliness

[DragnFly]

This topic come about from reading the National Man Day topic.

 

For the first two pages, it was back and forth discussion between the "holiday" (fun side), and a debate on the actual idea of what manliness should be defined as. Since the author wanted to keep that topic fairly light hearted, I decided it would be a good subject for a post about manliness in general.

 

Besides, since the day of that topic has done passed, I feel the topic will probably be page 2 bound in the next few days.

 

This post is for discussion of all things manly. What makes a man manly? What should manly be defined as? Basically discussion of anything masculine is welcome.

 

I had found this site several weeks ago, which I thought might be interesting for such a topic: http://artofmanliness.com

This article from that site is fairly interesting: http://artofmanliness.com/2010/05/16/what-is-manliness/

 

What do you think?

[obfuscator]

In my view you have the traditional kind of manliness, gruff, tough, physical, etc.

 

Of course changing roles in society have shifted that, so that definition doesn't work any more.

Magekillr brought up an interesting point, saying "Is spending time with your kids" not manly? I think it really is.

To the best I can define it currently, being manly goes hand in hand with maturity - to be manly is to do your job well, to care for your family, and to be a nice person. The statement "be a man, do the right thing" fits here well. It basically depends on your situation.

[Lenticular_J]

I'm a member of that site's community. It's taught me a lot. A man should be able to lead. He should be able to fix a cabinet. He should be able to kill a deer. He should be able to raise a family, mend a bone, do calculus, and debate philosophy. Specialization is for insects.

 

That website, though, might very well have changed my life. The people who run it are absolutely amazing folks, and the community is made up of all kinds of great people. Enough praise, though.

 

I feel that two things that are so basic for men: having a sense of style. And being able to shave properly. That is wet-shaving. Real cream (or soap), a badger brush, and preferably either a safety razor or even a straight razor. Although modern razors are okay if you excel in many other areas. The only problem is, a man who shaves like his grandfather (or great-grandfather) probably excels at a lot, too. So watch yourself.

[Lateralus]

The term 'great man' is widely applicable, to anyone from soldiers to poets to stay-at-home dads. As with anything else, societal expectations should be closely examined, and in many cases, discarded. People who are too pre-occupied with any archetype are generally that way because they are shallow people with little else to say.

[rangeor]

When I'm in a good mood I find manliness stuff hilarious and awesome, but usually I don't really care.

[Lenticular_J]

The term 'great man' is widely applicable, to anyone from soldiers to poets to stay-at-home dads. As with anything else, societal expectations should be closely examined, and in many cases, discarded. People who are too pre-occupied with any archetype are generally that way because they are shallow people with little else to say.

Of course, then there's Hemingway.

[Mirror]

I just always think about the MANtage I saw on Youtube. Definitely full of manliness there. :)

 

But seriously, I think being able to be rugged, protective, and able to provide are all consistent with being manly but not always all three in the same "task".

[DragnFly]

In my view you have the traditional kind of manliness, gruff, tough, physical, etc.

 

Of course changing roles in society have shifted that, so that definition doesn't work any more.

Magekillr brought up an interesting point, saying "Is spending time with your kids" not manly? I think it really is.

To the best I can define it currently, being manly goes hand in hand with maturity - to be manly is to do your job well, to care for your family, and to be a nice person. The statement "be a man, do the right thing" fits here well. It basically depends on your situation.

 

While its true that society has changed, and so has its expectations to various degrees, I would not go as far as to say tough, physical type of men do not work anymore. Physical strength is still very useful in many ways. Likewise for mental strength.

 

For example, just in the workplace alone:

 

Construction is a field physical strength would definitely be an advantage. Many blue collar jobs require it or atleast benefit significantly from it.

 

With jobs such as police, firefighters, and military... both mental and physical strength definitely are needed.

 

Basically, I think as you said it depends on the circumstances and the individual situation.

 

The term 'great man' is widely applicable, to anyone from soldiers to poets to stay-at-home dads. As with anything else, societal expectations should be closely examined, and in many cases, discarded. People who are too pre-occupied with any archetype are generally that way because they are shallow people with little else to say.

 

I think the idea is to show what qualities a man should possess and apply to the various aspects of their lives, rather than telling them what they should do with their lives. See the one article I had linked to in the original subject for a more in depth explanation.

[howbadisbad]

How to be a real man.

 

 

:twss:

[K4ylan]

I had a better video in mind.

[howbadisbad]

I had a better video in mind.

 

You have to be able to twirl sticks fast ofc.

or you have to be this awesome in runescape

 

[Saru Inc]

I'm a member of that site's community. It's taught me a lot. A man should be able to lead. He should be able to fix a cabinet. He should be able to kill a deer. He should be able to raise a family, mend a bone, do calculus, and debate philosophy. Specialization is for insects.

 

 

 

So if a man cannot do that, is he not manly?

 

The only thing that determines manliness are the sexual organs. And thats all it boils down to. The rest are simply misguided stigmas.

[SeanyTheSailor]

I just always think about the MANtage I saw on Youtube. Definitely full of manliness there. :)

 

But seriously, I think being able to be rugged, protective, and able to provide are all consistent with being manly but not always all three in the same "task".

MANtage is full of win.

[Lenticular_J]

I'm a member of that site's community. It's taught me a lot. A man should be able to lead. He should be able to fix a cabinet. He should be able to kill a deer. He should be able to raise a family, mend a bone, do calculus, and debate philosophy. Specialization is for insects.

 

 

 

So if a man cannot do that, is he not manly?

 

The only thing that determines manliness are the sexual organs. And thats all it boils down to. The rest are simply misguided stigmas.

No. And manliness is a character trait. A penis denotes a person as a male - not a man.

[Saru Inc]

Debatable.

 

 

Idk. I mean I have no problem with people thinking certain things are manly, and certain things aren't. Its your mind, its your world. believe what you want to believe.

 

 

I believe manliness is simply a way to characterize was a man does.

[RpgGamer]

Taking responsibility

Fixing things

scratching/belching/farting without care

working

sweating

high fives

beer [not lite]

cigars

tuxedos

speed boats

racing

foot ball

fishing

weight lifting

eating huge sandwhiches

paying bills

paying for dates

beards

really muddy work boots

short nails

short hair

 

...all of these things contribute to overall manliness

[rangeor]

I think that there's a rather distinct line between exaggerated bad-ass manliness and real manliness that a lot of people here seem to be purposely ignoring. For example, take a look at that art of manliness website that the OP posted. Of course it's littered with awesome, manly photos of old-time men being awesome, but the majority of the articles are legitimately useful in regards to being more of a man. You can learn a lot from the website, and only very rarely will you find the stereotypical, "lulz how 2 kill bare wit hands n grow beerd liek spartn," article.

[Pirate_Felix]

Chest hair is manly.

[Maleficus1055]

Chest hair is manly.

 

I'm so manly my chest hair grows chest hair.

 

Also my muscles have muscles on them.

[Giordano]

If life gives you lemons... you make super acidic lemonade and pour it down the open wounds at the [puncture] who gave you the lemons.

 

...is what a man will do. No fancy BBQ, no bear wrestling, no chest hair...if he takes the [cabbage] life gives him and turns it to his advantage beating everybody else without a single complaint, is a man.

[K4ylan]

 

Also my muscles have muscles on them.

 

This manly comment was taken straight out of Spongebob.

[Saru Inc]

Yeah basically.

 

 

 

Why does everyone use that example why not be like

 

"When life gives you mudslides, strip to your boxers and get dirty." (Watch out for sliding houses)

[Giordano]

There's no vengance against those you gave you lemons though. :(

[Saru Inc]

Yea. Besides. Lemonade made out of pure lemons is gross. Where the [bleep] is the sugar? Water? Drinking glasses? Life deprives us daily.

[Giordano]

I'm too tired to figure out what you're saying...g'night.