Guys: What do you think it means to be a man?

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raankh

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Nov 28, 2007
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Several above feel that genitals are the only real factor, and I tend to agree.

But, should the ability to produce offspring be included in manhood, even if we restrict manhood to purely biological factors?

We usually do with other species in biology, but it could have pretty dire consequences for the interpretation of the impact of intelligence as an evolutionary advantage. At least as far as manhood goes. Fertility, in particular among men, is declining due to our "modern environment".

So perhaps Intelligence shan't be the Boon of Man, but His Childless Doom.

P D James might be more prophetic than anyone can imagine .... *dun*duuuun*
 

TeeBs

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Oct 9, 2010
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Dr Snakeman said:
TeeBs said:
All I have to say, Fuck gender roles.

To be 100% honest being a good guy is great, if that falls into your definition of "Masculine" thats great, but im glad the aggressiveness of males is lowering. Call me a weak nerd but we don't need masculinity in todays society.
Huh.

I honestly can't say that I've ever "respectfully disagreed" with anything more in my life. This is, like, as much as I can possibly disagree with you, and still treat your opinion as worthy of my time.

So, yeah. I think you're gravely mistaken. More specifically, I think you're confused on what "masculinity" means.

I don't really want to have to come up with some huge thesis about it here, but I suggest you check out The Art of Manliness. It's a website with a cheesy name, but a really good premise. It's all about helping to recapture the good qualities of manhood in the past, but leaving behind all the racism and misogyny.

Here, to get you started:

http://artofmanliness.com/2009/02/12/is-manliness-obsolete/

A lot of very thought-provoking "man stuff" on that site.
I guess its your personal definition of masculinity is. My beef is with the concept that a sports star should make more then a doctor, that the men on Jersey Shore get idolized and common sensibility is shunned. I guess my view is warped because of where I live. I mean I try to live up to the whole strong, socially responsible aspect, but I feel, at least from what ive read from this article this guy is wrong in some areas. From what I have heard europes population is dropping not from a lack of Masculinity but more of something to be expected of post industrial nations, you can blame it on a lack of masculinity, but isn't Japan having the same problem? and with a nation like Japan, with a strong sense of honor and discipline would probably be the perfect breeding ground for your definition of man.
 

CheckD3

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Dec 9, 2009
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Is it the power is his hands? Is his his quest for Glory? Or is it the way he fights everyday, so you can know his story? Or is it the woman in his arms, just 'cause she has big titties?

Being a man to me doesn't mean dominance, but it does come with an air of confidence in yourself. Even 'submissive' men have to have confidence in their own manhood

No, it's probably the titties
 

pearcinator

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Apr 8, 2009
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Have a penis and balls...if that fails the you could just put on some Old Spice so that at least you'll smell like a man.
 

Hitokiri_Gensai

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Jul 17, 2010
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im not a man, but i think it means for a man to be upright and modest, strong and understanding. He should be strong in morals and trustworthy.

This is just me personally, saying what id like to see in a man.
 

BoredRolePlayer

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Nov 9, 2010
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What it takes to be a man? Own up to your responsibilities and commitments. Makes me sick when I watch TV and guys are like "Yeah I'm a man a real man" even though he has 5 kids he pays for child support and he himself doesn't have a job and gets help from another source.
 

KhakiHat

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Dec 28, 2008
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Hummm...
I think its the understanding that you can and must forge your own destiny, even when everyone tells you otherwise. You don't fall on some philosophy or religious teaching that would let you live any differently.
So from there stems the good acts, manners and general baddassery that would make a man a man. Otherwise he is just a shell. And I'm just learning that now.
 

n00beffect

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May 8, 2009
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To me, being a man is not being "macho", or aggresive and competitive, or any of the sort. Being a man is being smart and determined. Not giving-up, no matter the ods. Following your dreams, and staying strong at all times. Being diverse, understanding, wise. Decisive, knowing you want, soughting after it, even if it means sacrificing who you are, for the better. Being an overgrown, masculine, stupid, arrogant, stereotypical prick doesn't really fall-in to my understanding of true manlinnes. Looks and demeanor are vain, arbitrary and superficial things, which carry little to no meaning at all.
 

Ham_authority95

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Dec 8, 2009
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Just to be independent and do stuff that you want in your life, but isn't that what an "Adult" is rather than one gender or the other?
 

Shakomaru

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May 18, 2011
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electric_warrior said:
You must have rugged facial hair and smell of rich mahogany, and be able to birth a calf as well as write a sonnet.
You win all the internets. I think that people in general need to get over themselves and lose the egos though. To actually answer the question, If you think you're a dude, you're a dude. If you don't then you're whatever you think you are.
 

Falconsgyre

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May 4, 2011
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Real men don't worry about being real men or conforming to gender stereotypes and recognize that most aspects of gender are socially constructed.
 

Rylot

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May 14, 2010
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Dr Snakeman said:
Fight Club and Project Mayhem were started because of middle-class, white collar despair, not machismo. They weren't fighting to feel manlier, they were fighting to feel anything at all.

It was all nihilism and RL trolling, not masculinity.
The entire opening monologue was about how the modern man has been neutered by modern society. The middle-class, white collar despair was caused from a loss of machismo. It was started so men and only men who feel emasculated by society can regain it. It starts off in a testicular cancer (literally neutered men) support group. nihilism was definitely a big part of the story but it was about bringing down the establishment and setting up a more equitable society was the focus of the last part of the story but the first was firmly rooted in a loss of masculinity.