Are people today softer

[Guest J*ingus]

You know what I think is a huge cause for the "softness" in people today, especially in America? Modern medicine. People simply don't die as young or as often as they used to. In olden times, if you lived to be an adult, you'd already seen half the people you knew get put in the ground. That hardens a person, and a culture. People don't have to deal with that nearly as much these days.

[Guest Olympic Slam]

Our culture has been femininized a lot. Men today it seems aren't allowed to get angry or hate something. Instead they need to discuss their feelings and not pass judgment on others. I'm no John Wayne, but I always have to roll my eyes when I see some Goth or 110 pound weakiling looking more like a girl in juinor high than a man. I've always been a geek, but I found the tough guy mentality of the football team far more tolerable than the whiney nerds at the Magic:The Gathering tournaments.

 

As for fighting, I've never been in a fight in my life outside of a few shoving matches in hockey games. I attribute that not to being a pussy and backing down from fights, but from never actually getting involved in a situation where a fight was warranted.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

Jesus, forget it. No sell #2.

[Guest SP-1]

I'm not advocating hosing the deck with testosterone at all. I'm just saying that more often than not we're even taught to defend our families, but rather to plan an "escape route" and such and so forth. And boys today are greatle feminized, which is unfortunate. I'm actually saying the same thing you are, Tyler. There's a time and a place. But the posing, "I'll knock your dick in the dirt if you look at me wrong," isn't legit at all.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

The escape route thing is valid, though, especially when the guy has a freakin' shotgun. If he's unarmed, sure, get the kids out of the house and defend your family. However, it's rather stupid to risk your life and your family's lives in order to prove your masculinity.

[Guest SP-1]

Shotgun, yes. If it's some nut though, sock the shit out of him. Don't let people legit push you around either though. Even if it's not life or death, you've got to stand up for yourself. It's a case by case thing though. Some things are poser-ish and stupid. Then there's true malicious intent towards you. It's not always about fisticuffs, either. That's a small part of it. So often we're taught to not even speak up for ourselves because it might offend somebody else, which is retarded in the way it's been used. See what I'm saying? Standing on your own two feet is fine, but there is a line where it's just childishness.

[Guest Olympic Slam]

I'm not advocating hosing the deck with testosterone at all. I'm just saying that more often than not we're even taught to defend our families, but rather to plan an "escape route" and such and so forth. And boys today are greatle feminized, which is unfortunate. I'm actually saying the same thing you are, Tyler. There's a time and a place. But the posing, "I'll knock your dick in the dirt if you look at me wrong," isn't legit at all.

A lot of the macho talk is just an act anyway. I'd wager that almost everything you hear from those type of people is an act. A real tough guy doesn't need to show off his macho-ism. Some of the biggest, toughest guys I've known were the quiet type who NEVER tried to show off how tough they were. That is until someone foolishly pissed them off.

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

One time I did almost lose it. My dad was in a car wreck when I was four, and I was in the backseat. A full grown thoroughbred tried to leap the car and came down on the roof right above him. What happens when one moron tries to make fun of it? My brain shut down and I came one ace from caving his windpipe. Yeah, I was a quiet one and I would have smiled doing it.

 

I just want to point out that this might be the strangest single paragraph I've seen in weeks.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

Fair enough.

 

I'd make the argument, though, that it takes more balls to sit there and let people make fun of you and just crack a smile and know that you're better than them. Losing your temper and attacking is a sign of weakness in and of itself, IMO.

 

In the house break in dealie, like I said, if there's any risk that little Johnny may lose his father over his defense of his family, I don't think it's worth it. Let him take your TV; your children growing up with a father is much more important.

[Guest SP-1]

I agree. IF you can take the guy do it, but never risk your life with your kid in the back yard.

 

And I agree, it takes alot more strength to let people do their thing. Talking doesn't faze me really. But if someone swings at me, I'll try to just end it quickly without dealing much damage. I think that's critical too. Measuring your strength is essential.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

Heh heh heh, I always enjoyed grabbing the guy's arm after dodging his first, obligatory face shot and placing it behind his back, running him into a wall, and making him look like a total boob as he wails away hopelessly. Not only does it not hurt him much, it also shows who is superior.

 

Dammit, I'm reminiscing myself now. I was a bad kid in grade school.

[Guest SP-1]

Unfortunately, I had anger problems when I was younger. Or at least I went off once. Poor kid. I just kept picking him up and throwing him at a wall for cracking about my deceased father.

 

He moved the next day, I think. I feel bad about that to this day.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

Well, I was the sad recipient of a Catholic school elementary education, and I had to deal with the rich kids in the neighborhood cracking on my parents and lifestyle (I'm not the most well endowed individual out there). So, I almost got expelled quite a few times due to these rules, but I at least know why they're in place and agree with most of them. I simply wish enforcement was more effective.

[Guest Vyce]

God dammit, another post no-sold due to machoism. Let's have a real discussion instead of "WE SHULD SOCK EM IN DA MOUTH, HEHEHE" shall we?

 

Does anyone actually believe that the old "beat the fuck out of everyone who steps to you" culture is a good thing? Seriously, we used to live in a culture that prided men on their machoism and encouraged them to have no feelings and simply engage in fightin' and playin'. As much as you wanna say that we were "tougher" back then, how are we better off by living in a society which thinks that those who choose not to fight and play sports are somewhat less than a man? That's an absurd notion, and going back to the days of everyone beating up everyone else is absolutely stupid.

I'll say this: No, it's not really a good thing.

 

But it ain't nearly as bad as it's made out to be.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

If somebody comes up and pushes me for no real reason, I'm pushing them back. Only I'm pushing them harder, faster, and farther than they pushed me. Why? To get the point across that I really don't feel like their shit.

 

That's not what we're being taught by teahcers. Little Johnny is being taught to cry to the teacher if Little Bobby punches him in the gut. I was taught eye-for-an-eye justice when it comes to one-on-one confrontations, as long as "eye-for-an-eye" doesn't involve somebody that had nothing to do with the confrontation itself (basically, if Little Bobby decked me, I'd deck him back; but if Little Bobby decked my buddy, Little Craig, then I'd tell Little Bobby to stop being a dick).

[Guest spiny norman]

I can't believe how bigoted some people are being here (eg. Olympic Slam). We are being too feminine, hence being softer? Women put up with so much more crap than men do, but they don't get involved in violent situations half as much. If you're going to try and create difference barriers between "men" and "little girls", at least admit that women are much stronger than men. Who cares if I can punch someone harder than they can punch me? I'm not a politically correct person, but if women can manage their differences without resorting to something so high-brow as violence (because I'm obviously missing the whole sophistication needed to understand this) then I don't see how anybody can say that (a) this is a horrible step for society to take and (b) it is a sign we are growing increasingly softer.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

I would dispute the fact that women deal with more crap, simply because of the double standard that has arisen that causes us to desire a more macho, violent attitude. However, the point is a good one; it takes more strength to put up with shit than to throw a punch.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Well, on the women being weaker point..have you ever seen a catfight? I mean, a real, genuine catfight..Brutal. Usually, guys will just bust each other in the snout and be done with it..but women..ye gods. I wouldn't want to fight a pissed off chick, that's for sure. Plus I'd feel bad about headbutting her.

 

I'm not advocating throwing a right cross at everyone who looks at you funny, but there's definitely times when a sock in the jaw is completely called for, and it's not always when one is being threatened or attacked.

 

I do sincerely believe though, that you learn a lot about yourself after kicking someone's ass, or getting your ass kicked. Whichever comes first.

 

Who cares if I can punch someone harder than they can punch me?

 

If you get in that situation..it matters.