What makes a man a Man?

[Cowabungaa]

I've got a question for you, fellow Escapees.

A while ago I made a thread about some personal problems. One poster suggested that I should join the Marines as 'they'll make a man out of you, some can live their entire lives without being a man.' And that got me wondering; what is it that makes a man a Man? What separates the men from the boys, so to speak.

Is it a ritual, is it a certain rite of passage, is it an achievement or a state of mind, and is it important to become a man? Do discuss.

 

[comadorcrack]

It is putting the needs of someone else in front of your own.

 

[reg42]

It's age. That's it.
I don't get why people get all pretentious about "being a man". You're a man once you stop developing physically, if you want to be technical. But really, who cares? Why does one have to "be a man", why can't someone just live life the way they want?

 

[Private Custard]

If - Rudyard Kipling

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son.

 

[Pariah87]

That pretty much sums up what makes a man, a man.

 

[Xeros]

"A man is just a boy who's old enough to ask that question".

Cookie for the reference.

EDIT: *Has been awarded the /thread*

 

[Scrythe]

[HEADING=2]What is a man? A miserable little pile of secrets...[/HEADING]

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Well according to Bioshock it's..

Spoiler

Choice - "A Man chooses, a slave obeys"

Though I'd say it's more based on maturity and values. Unless we're basing this on the man points system whereby other men grant you points on your actions and how "manly" they are.

 

[are.you.the.god.its.me.vader]

That pretty much sums up what makes a man, a man.

Can't believe I was about to be ninja'd, great film!

OT....I guess a man has to look after his family?

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

"A man is just a boy who's old enough to ask that question".

Cookie for the reference.

I don't have the reference but that is brilliant and I award you the /thread.

 

[gibboss28]

That pretty much sums up what makes a man, a man.

Damn you beat me to it!

But in all seriousness reg42 put my take on it, and Pariah put the video I was going to post, hmm I feel slightly unwanted... Ah well Back to The Sons of Anarchy!

 

[PAGEToap44]

His power tools...

 

[ottenni]

You are a man when you no longer feel the need to prove it. That or you have a beard, all beards grant at least + 1 manliness.

 

[Jonathan Wingo]

I've got a question for you, fellow Escapees.

A while ago I made a thread about some personal problems. One poster suggested that I should join the Marines as 'they'll make a man out of you, some can live their entire lives without being a man.' And that got me wondering; what is it that makes a man a Man? What separates the men from the boys, so to speak.

Is it a ritual, is it a certain rite of passage, is it an achievement or a state of mind, and is it important to become a man? Do discuss.

When you aren't acting like a wimpy, sad, pathetic, pussy, then you are a man. You get tough enough to stand up for yourself and others, then you are a man.

 

[Flames66]

That pretty much sums up what makes a man, a man.

He's not singing about being a man, he's singing about being a mayon.

OT I'm not really sure.

It is putting the needs of someone else in front of your own.

If we use that then many people have never become men.

It's age. That's it.
I don't get why people get all pretentious about "being a man". You're a man once you stop developing physically, if you want to be technical. But really, who cares? Why does one have to "be a man", why can't someone just live life the way they want?

I think this makes the most sense, but if this is the only definition of a man then the word can't really be used as a compliment and looses some of it's positive connotations.

 

[Jonathan Wingo]

You are a man when you no longer feel the need to prove it. That or you have a beard, all beards grant at least + 1 manliness.

Haha, definitely. I believe a man must have a beard if he's going to have long hair. You need that +1 to manliness in order to counter the long hair.

 

[Jonathan Wingo]

It's age. That's it.
I don't get why people get all pretentious about "being a man". You're a man once you stop developing physically, if you want to be technical. But really, who cares? Why does one have to "be a man", why can't someone just live life the way they want?

You want to be a man, or do you want to be a pussy and have all the men laugh at you and beat the shit out of you on a regular basis? Take your pick.

 

[Paksenarrion]

If - Rudyard Kipling

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son.

This. You have all just been Kipling'd.

/thread.

Thank you, *Colonel* Custard.

 

[ottenni]

You are a man when you no longer feel the need to prove it. That or you have a beard, all beards grant at least + 1 manliness.

Haha, definitely. I believe a man must have a beard if he's going to have long hair. You need that +1 to manliness in order to counter the long hair.

Or you must head-bang daily. If you are going to have long hair at least put it to a good use.

 

[reg42]

It's age. That's it.
I don't get why people get all pretentious about "being a man". You're a man once you stop developing physically, if you want to be technical. But really, who cares? Why does one have to "be a man", why can't someone just live life the way they want?

You want to be a man, or do you want to be a pussy and have all the men laugh at you and beat the shit out of you on a regular basis? Take your pick.

Why can't I just be me? It's worked out for me so far.