The inability of people to accept others who are not like themselves.
I think this a major cause of conflict in many parts of the world and particularly in America right now, and can funnel right down to a forum such as this one. And I think it’s worth discussing.
As a man, I can see how much of this lack of acceptance stems from men, maybe more so than from women, though I could be wrong and am open and eager to bebetter informed on that.
So let’s start with some of the prototypical general male stereotypes:
1. The dominant, aggressive, angry male. This male stereotype shuns emotions in himself, and generally finds sensitivity in other men to be repulsive. Generally stubborn, aggressive, and not prone to peaceful discourse. He is aggressive toward men and either protective of women, or jealously and commodifying of women, and sometimes hateful of women.
2. The protective teddy bear. This male is large and strong, but also tends to be sensitive and protective of weaker and/or diminutive men and women. He is far less aggressive and is typically only so when being defensive of others.
3. The Don Juan/ womanizer. The Don Juan is suave, often egomaniacal, and typically friendly as long as extending friendship garners him something desired. He can also be tend have borderline personality disorder, AKA a “suckspitter” who will reject others who do not meet his needs or fulfill his desires.
4. The balanced man. The few, the confident but not overly proud, the not many. Highly desirable.
5. The sensitive reclusive. This kind of male tends to be highly sensitive, both emotionally, as well as in a tactile sense. This can of man is at a great disadvantage to the dominant aggressive male for obvious reasons, and the Don Juan if being sensitive does not suit his wants.
6. The nerd. The poor misunderstood nerd. This type of man often has qualities that enhance humanities ability to adapt, create, and be innovative. They can be painfully shy, but also can harbor anger and resentment that can lead to serious trouble like school shootings.
This doesn’t even really address sexual preferences, and the range of acceptance or rejection along those lines has become more and more obvious over time.
Also, to complete the picture, it would be helpful to have a woman’s perspective on various basic types of women.
My reason for wanting to discuss all this is twofold. 1: I see a lot of infighting on these threads that prevents useful discussion. Calling people “crybabies”, for example. I used to not be able to cry. The older I get, the more dysfunctional and damaged I see the world is becoming around me, the faster I see my own mortality approach, the more often I am reduced to tears of grief. Some of you need to understand, this does not make someone like me a “pussy” or a “crybaby”. Fully grown, wise and experienced men grieve. It’s actually a very manly thing to do.
And sensitivity in men is also misunderstood. Now granted some women (and, to be fair, some men) prefer a “he-man”, a “manly-man”, a real “macho hunk”. But (and I can tell you this from a good deal of experience) some women are happier and more content being with a man who is sensitive, especially if said man is sensitive and, rather than a “Charley Brown”, can be strong when need be. Sensitivity in men should not always be scoffed at. In some ways, it is desirable.
So here’s the deal, if you’re up for an adult discussion about how we can be more understanding as a group of people, maybe (yeah I know, long shot, but hey, nothing beats that successful long bomb to goal line, or that clothes line shot that just clears the fence, or that final stitch in a knitted sweater you wondered would ever amount to anything other than a pile of frogging and tinking, right?), just maybe something worth while will come out of this. So let’s see what you’ve got.
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