What makes a Man? - General

to be a man you must have honor honor and a penis

What makes a real man in my opinion is someone who watches football instead of HUEHUE MAGICAL PRINCESS LITTLE POONEIS.

Ya gotta eat meat and yell! You gotta have a hairy face and an equally hairy crotch! Ya gotta work hard, get angry, and take it out on your wife! Ya gotta drink beer and get into fights at the bar! Fuck bitches and get money! Kick ass and take names! Shoot guns and save damsels! Then go home and masturbate! Yeah!

[QUOTE=Melnek;42509755]The conservative values of a 'man' do not apply today. The reason such values were ingrained into culture and were expected of any male was because such values were justified. I'm talking about a generation of men that have served in wars at young ages, I believe the masculinity part of society mainly stems from warfare. Old values like serving your country and doing what's right, have bred a generation of people who grew up as the most stereotypical "macho man" or "manly-man" we know today. Essentially, it was a generation that had reasons for having a set of rules and values by which they must follow. I believe having met or seen death at its most vulgar form at early adulthood plays a massive role in this. As the Western world began to rebuild itself after WW2, war took root elsewhere, and on a much smaller scale. Therefore, from the 60's all the way to the 90's we basically had a new generation of men that were 'untouched' by war or conflict, and as a result were raised under a different, more liberal and peaceful set of values. Thus began the period of heavy liberalization, from black rights to women rights, and so on. People were starting to rise up against warfare, and in huge numbers often outnumbering those in favor. After all that, we basically entered the internet-era and everything changed. As the world advanced and progressed further, war changed, our lives changed and our lived changed. What you describe as the "fedoralord wimpy dyed-hair guys" are a mere byproduct of the changing world. It's nothing but a form of rebellion for a generation that essentially, has no real purpose. I really hate to paraphrase Fight Club, but we do not have any wars or wide-spread, horrid oppression to unite us under the same flag for the common good. We have no world war to win and nothing serious enough to protest against and form a movement numbering in the tens of millions to stop a terrible war. We have a few -relatively- small things to protest and fight for, but we lack a common goal. Everyone is just doing their thing, and I dont think the blanket system of values our societies once had will come back again. Also seeing a 19 year old try to act like a conservative 40 year old WW2 veteran in the 60's is just as embarrassing to witness as the very same fedoralords you speak of, in my opinion. It's just so forced.[/QUOTE] "Old values like serving your country and doing what's right" The fact that these values no longer appear to be relevant is scary. I'd hate to see society need to get it's shit together to face a real threat, because right now we're scattered and hopeless.

This [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiXaT_1I-vw[/media]

what makes a man is a penis. (incoming checking of CIS privilege) [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Shitpost" - Megafan))[/highlight]

[QUOTE='[Seed Eater];42510374']It's stigma like OP's that prevent me from dying my hair. I mean shit I want to do it because I do. Except assblasters like this guy continually push this shit that it's unmanly or feminine and that's bad and buck up and act like you got a penis, go shoot a deer and get a wife and have 20 kids and bring home to bacon. I need a shed of powertools and a muscle car and if I don't have a hearty breakfast made for me by my submissive housewife then I'm a fag. I'm a productive member of society, fuck you. I want to dye my hair, I should be able to dye my hair without people like you proclaiming I socially castrated myself. That goes for wearing a hat and being skinny, too. Shit, who gives a fuck? "Confidence, honor, and dignity". What a joke. Get some real values.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJk2g8YMMLo[/url] "Where my damn tools."

You become a man once you stop complaining and start doing, when you stop giving in to what society thinks you're supposed to do or say (whether it be now or forty years ago), and when you begin thinking for yourself instead of adopting other people's ideals. You, OP, are far from being a man.

You want to see a real man? Hunter S Thompson. The guy literally survived being beaten up by the Hells Angels; did numerous drugs, slept with loads of women; but not once did he ever ask anybody for help. What makes a man is getting yourself out of the shit you cause; and becoming stronger because of it; not whining like a twat when something bad happens. A man also makes sacrifices for his family before himself.

[QUOTE=S33T;42619378] but not once did he ever ask anybody for help.[/QUOTE] Asking for help isn't weakness, but a choice to cease being ignorant.

[QUOTE=thelurker1234;42511647]Most men aren't very manly these days anyways, at least on the internet. In my opinion it's mainly confidence, and not being a whiny little schoolgirl. And it doesn't really matter if you do that, it's not really "manly", but if that's not something you care about go right on ahead. But everyone will judge everyone and that's not going away, I don't quite see a problem with judging others as long as it's kept to yourself unless they ask.[/QUOTE] You should judge people, if you're going to, when you've seen their personality. Not when you've seen their hair colour, that's ridiculous.

I think respecting and honoring one's own and others dignity, living a life that is aligned to your own personal values (aka confidence, but the true one; not the one needing validation from outside) and helping others align their own lifes with their values, and to continously help others flourish from within, are the most important things you can do in your life. The one thing that ties it all together is openness towards everything. We must not judge, but try to understand. But here comes a very clear cut for me: don't accept people who are not what they apepear to be, who wallow in self-pity, who deceive themselves, who have too much pride in themselves, who fear too much, who try to drag others down with them to confort themselves, who shout at and discriminate others so as to feel better, who use false excuses to justfiy their actions, and those of others to create a more comforting image; in short, do not allow others to be less than the best version of themselves they can be, only because the ego is fucking with their mind. It is important to find out what people's motive behind their actions is. This is important to understand others, but even more important for oneself. How does this look in practice? Ask yourself: why does this guy want to dye his hair? Is it because he craves attention? Is it because he wants to appeal to a certain crush? Is it because he wants to make a statement, i.e. to rebel against society or his parents? Is it because he was bored with his hair? Is it because he just likes to try new things? Is it because he is going to some kind of festival? Or is it because he simply likes this color? Is it maybe because this is more of a honest expression of who he really is than his previous appearance? The same method can be applied to every behavior there is. There is always some underlying motive why people do something, even if it simply is them following their feelings. Only if you see that that what this person is doing serves his expression of self, that he experiences genuine happiness with his choice, is it tolerable. Unfortunately, this already excludes a large portion of our population who are still trapped in the ego's games, and, by extension, society's. As you can see, it's absolutely impossible to reach such understanding of another person if you are full of prejudices. This is why openness is so important. And what do you do if you see that a person's choices do not stem from this standard we just set? Simple: you -offer- your help. Don't force your help onto other persons. Not only does it make the situation worse for the individual, but it also says a lot about you, the one who can't resist NOT helping other people against their will. Yes, in a few cases you need extraordinary measures to break the ice surrounding some people. I have helped a bunch of dudes by hitting them in their faces (they all thanked me later on), or by letting them hit me. But this is definitely not the norm. See how I used the the term "flourish". Be as careful in your observations and empathy as possible,to determine how much help is needed in what exact given moment. If you do not have this self-validated confidence, you can not, under any circumstances, literally never, act like I previously described. How do you want to start a process of change in people if you haven't been through this process yourself? If you are too weak when pulling someone out of a dark pit to show him all the glory the world above carries in it, you fall into it. You have to climb out the pit BY YOURSELF first, you have to pace around the bright world BY YOURSELF, you have to gain understanding and strength YOURSELF first, before you can pass a part of it onto others and show them the way to the light. This is how you gain confidence. There is no other way. And dignity is that what forces you from inside to live life in such a manner. It is essentially self-respect and respect for life. To acknowledge the fact that not living your life to it's fullest, and not helping other's do the same, is acting against life. As should be apparent by now, none of this could happen without being open to life, being open to one's own weaknesses as well as to those of other's. Forget about being a "man", try being human instead. (P.S.: In hunter-gatherer times women also used to hunt alongside men. Men sometimes cooked and looked after the children. Who gives a shit? Of course there are differences between genders and people in general, but we should embrace these.However,I don't want to make them the same here. Isn't it precisely that which a masculine man finds lacking in himself that draws him to a femine female, and vice versa? Still, pay attention to how there are men with varying degrees of masculinity and femininity, as well as there are woman with varying degrees of masculinity and feminity. And if each of them searches for a someone who compliments them in their very own position on the male/female masculinity-femininity spectrum, can't you explain how different relationships form? Sorry, I digress. I'm bored right now and just had to get this post out of my brain.)

I feel sorry for anyone who feels the need to write a load of pseudo-philosophical tripe about what it means to be a man.

Then what makes a man? Do tell me.

[QUOTE=WuWei;42674754]Then what makes a man? Do tell me.[/QUOTE] nothing the fact that there are 165 posts in this thread and no one agrees with anyone to begin with is enough to deconstruct the entire notion into bullshit

Might be because everyone has different personal values, all developed differently among them. Isn't it some kind of idol, something to strive for, which we are discussing (or trying to :) ) here?

[QUOTE=WuWei;42689597]Might be because everyone has different personal values, all developed differently among them. Isn't it some kind of idol, something to strive for, which we are discussing (or trying to :) ) here?[/QUOTE] The unmasking of how contradictions, denials, and dogmatic decrees exist in these personal values kinda proves how the incompatibility of these interpretations is evident. You can't all be right. Its a meaningless endeavor that is neither philosophical or academic. And harmful at worst.

[QUOTE=NoDachi;42694198]The unmasking of how contradictions, denials, and dogmatic decrees exist in these personal values kinda proves how the incompatibility of these interpretations is evident. You can't all be right. Its a meaningless endeavor that is neither philosophical or academic. And harmful at worst.[/QUOTE] I see where you are coming from- you think that the goal of this thread is to find an absolute truth, a standard which holds true for all. And, if this is given, much uneccessary effort has been used for a "meaningless endeavor", so you're right. But maybe it's not the outcome which is most important. Think about how many different people shared their point of view on this matter and how each single reader can pick and choose what he thinks will help him in his particular situation. It's not "doing for the sake of doing", or "doing for the sake of finding the absolute truth", but "doing for the sake of change which comes when things move".

I don't think there is an absolute truth to be found to begin with. Its meaningless because any actual ideals that what makes a man~ don't exist. Its all just high abstractions.

But I guess that you think that the intent/purpose of it is to find this truth, even if there is none. Ergo, the whole thing is vain. You are subconsciously stuck in your train of thought that would lead this discussion to breaking something abstract down to a universal truth. If this idea of "the man" (the absolute truth, an idea that everyone has) would exist, you could act this way. But, as we have agreed upon, such a notion is stupid. Ok, now the ideal doesn't exist, but you still have those criteria that state a discussion is only worthwhile if it leads to this ideal. Why not cherish an exchange of ideas that ultimately doesn't lead to a universally agreed upon truth, or is based upon such to begin with?

when you walk a lonely road which is the only one you have ever known and you dont know where it goes and it is home to you while you walk alone that is when you know you are a man

WHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT, don't diss fedoras.

Bringing a woman to orgasm is the only thing on this earth that can make you a man.

[QUOTE=Jitterz;42736045]Bringing a woman to orgasm is the only thing on this earth that can make you a man.[/QUOTE] gay people are not men?

[QUOTE=NoDachi;42743372]gay people are not men?[/QUOTE] The fact that you even ask that shows what the OP was talking about. A homosexual can be male even manly but that is just it, they will be man like but never truly a man. A man would never be intimate with another man. Based on what I said you would have been better off asking if a lesbian could be considered a man.

[QUOTE=Jitterz;42744301]The fact that you even ask that shows what the OP was talking about. A homosexual can be male even manly but that is just it, they will be man like but never truly a man. A man would never be intimate with another man. Based on what I said you would have been better off asking if a lesbian could be considered a man.[/QUOTE] it wasn't a real question you dingus i was calling out your flawed logic

[QUOTE=gtanoofa;42752281] Or maybe there is no such thing as a true man and it's all a creation of the human mind.[/QUOTE] Ouch; right in the reality.