The '"pussification of men"

[Malacasta]

Wondering how much sympathy people have for this guy's opinion.

http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/essays/41/

[Rilthyn]

WTF!?

I like his take on some shit, most shit really, but as soon as he tries to hammer what he's saying into some kind of pro-Bushies rhetoric it all dies.

Yeah I like getting drunk, gawking at hotties, and telling cunts that they're cunts, but that doesn't mean I want to idolise Rumsfeld?

[Gromgor]

He has the right idea but the wrong methods.

He's trying to define "Men" by his standard, never realizing the hypocrisy in that. Respect, Conviction and Morality. Being a man isn't about violence, beer and tally marks on the bed post. It's about standing up and doing the shit that needs to be done. Whether that's going to war, going to a job you hate, or taking your kid fishing so you can teach him about respect, conviction and morality.

It is not about being loud.

[Rosuav]

There are times when a Real Man has to be loud, violent, etcetera. Such times are relatively rare, but they do happen. A coward is someone who doesn't act when he should, and if the situation calls for violence and you aren't violent, then you're a coward. However, you can't say that just because Fred is quiet while Joe is loud means that Fred is a coward and Joe is a real man.

Brashness and excessive "macho" behaviour I associate with the weak, actually. Someone who commands real power is invariably calm, quiet, and in control... it's those who WISH they had power that try to show it off.

[Rilthyn]

Far more interesting is his wife's reply

http://www.mrsdutoit.com/index.php/main/single/2969/

[Gaviani]

I've had the good fortune to meet (and fire handguns with) Mr. du Toit on several occasions. He happened to live only a handful of miles away from me (read: less than 10) when I lived in Texas.

I have a different interpretation and view of the Bush administration. I do not find that material to his article here, and think you could extract that without any loss. That aside, and having spoken to him in order to hear where the exaggerations and colorings for effect are (Mrs. du Toit's post actually goes specifically into that), I can answer easily: yes. Full-throatedly, without a pause, I completely sympathize with his opinion. Completely.

[anthson]

Complete sympathy here.

Another interesting article along the same lines: http://tinyurl.com/2m8ycc

[khaltek]

I agree with a lot of what he says, but he knows fuck-all about Europe.

[Thasifrew]

Feeble verbiage. His concept of masculinity existed only in a narrow period on a particular geography. Was the entire 16th century effeminate because middle- and upper-class men were well dressed?

Neither writer understands the fundamental purpose of language: to effectively communicate. One doesn't "listen" to text: one reads it. If the meaning isn't clear on the first read, the writer has failed. These writers have failed.

I hope his children are sterile because homo sapiens shouldn't be polluted by his genetic contribution.

[Belaraiya]

All I have to say is this - Thank God I'm a Man - Probably not too safe for work, but makes me giggle everytime I see it