If you were to see me in a dark alley, my actual physical, self you would see a man who is about 6'2" tall, shaved head, goattee, large build, and you might be intimidated. But I don't consider myself a Macho Man. I'm more of a Big Teddy bear, who has a very sensitive side. I will tear-up/cry while watching a movie. I guess I get that from my Mom. She is a very loving, caring sensitive person. Now don't get me wrong though. Hurt my family, my children, piss me off and that teddy bear will tear you a new one and not think twice about it.

I don't think any of us like the stereotypes of our society. Man, woman, black, white, we all are a mixture of a lot of emotions, actions, and hormones. lol

Wick, I could relate to the cop ;)

been a long time since someone told me to "man up" or "be a man". its a pretty inflamatory phrase, indicating someone is a soft, weak individual. i think id pop someone right in the mouth if they said this to me, honestly.

(and i know im gonna incite the tolerance crowd but some things just push a button...this is one of mine. i hate bullies.)

Hmmm, I guess I'm not part of the tolerent crowd .. LMAO

I worry that today's world has defined men as money making machines who are not supposed to have feelings or express their emotions.

There has got to be a different, BETTER definition of what being a man really means.

This macho crap is getting old!!

I can see where those terms would offend a man. However, I love to use that term towards men, who are actually boys across the board. Really men don't need to hear this, if they know their responsibilities and live up to them. Now there are Man-Boys, who need to hear the terms and most need them explained.

Yea, don't use those degrading phrases about me, do what you want to my wife but leave me alone ;)

What are you talking about? As a result of the '90's movement for the "sensitive man" we have men behaving like they lack testosterone! Hey I am all for a guy taking care of himself but when we have gone metro-sexual to the point that men spend as much time on "beauty" as women I think something is wrong.

I worry that the world today allows in general for too much whiney and coping out.

If I hear a noise in the night the MAN gets out of bed and investigates, not the other way around.

I hear ppl say there are no more gentlemen and chivalry is dead...well we wanted to be equal in everyway so we lost all of the proper treatment of a lady in many cases. Then we wanted men to be sensitive...now we wonder why they take so much time prettying themselves up to go out.


I often hear ppl speak of wanting traditional family values and for marriage to mean something. It meant something in the times when the man went to work, primping meant a suit and cologne, women took care of the house and children and that was enough ppl were happy.

Those old married couples we look up to and want to be someday, my grandparents are one of those couples my grandma is respected and loved always has been but she had her place and my grandpa went to work and managed the finances. Marriage meant something, parents were happy, kids were happy and as archie would say "girls were girls and men were men"

Sorry if this is a rant but it seems like we want to have our cake and eat it too, but it is not that simple. We took away the simplicity of life and meaning of marriage when we started picking at everything. Now we're all scratching our heads saying how did this happen?

I mean no disrespect but our society has become way to loosey goosey in its expectation and I don't ever want someone to ask me to stop being a woman so why on earth would I want a man to stop being a man.

Again I strong feelings on this and I am in no way trying to offend anyone.

Gia you remind me so much of my daughter. I love your spunk. I love reading what you post, I don't always see eye to eye with it, but I love your passion. You are an amazing woman for one so young.

Thank you! When I saw a reply at first I thought oops I stepped on someone's toes! Again, thank you never been accussed of lacking spunk!

Modern, enlightened, sort of rennasance man. Secure and confident, capable and cool, typically well educated and stylish. Heterosexual with a twist, not gay by any means, but he probally has a few gay friends, and can easily be mistaken for gay by rednecks and jock types. The only straight guy in a fabric store or antique shop who is not being dragged there by a woman.

That's me, and proud of it, but don't call me "dawg" or try to assault my family or friends...let alone come in my house unwelcomed ;)

"Traditional" family values? In 2007? Unless a husband earns at least a 6-figure income and we can afford to stay home and "be in our place", we will need to join the work force and instead, rely on the husbands to contribute at home, in whatever way needed: diapers, dishes, shopping, homework, etc.

Today's women can't do it alone anymore. There are just too many responsibilities and expectations. We need men to help us out and that means that their role as husbands and fathers needs to be re-defined.

What is the real measure of a man today? I believe it is not what it used to be 50 years ago. Let's go with the flow here. Life's changing...

My husband does not make 6figures but he pays for everything; my income is secondary not a requirement BUT you have a point we do not have children.

Now I personally feel it is better for the child to have 1 parent at home if possibly...my feelings and no one has to agree.

Things are changing but there is good change and bad change and I do not see our 2007 as a shining example of good change. As it is ppl are like who pays? do we still pull out chairs? open doors? No one really knows b/c we are losing differences btw the genders.

If the flow keeps going like this there won't be a single difference between a man and a woman other than genitalia and I am not cool with that. In addition if we all keep it up being married 3+ times will just be par for the course.

It is not a seperate issue, those old couples have a husband(a man) and a wife(a woman) not 2 ppl who differ in genitalia only.

Once again I respect but strongly disagree with your opinion and I mean no offense.

I agree that there have been many bad changes alongside the good ones.
But to think that the differences between genders will ever disappear if men act out some of their feelings and emotions is absurd to me.

I believe many women (myself included) are here because our husbands were not sensitive enough, not compassionate enough, not empathetic enough, not considerate enough. My ex, for one, was as macho as it gets. He was "the man" - in his eyes, and in the eyes of many other people. Except in mine... What I wanted was a caring soul, and he wasn't it.

I guess it all depends on what floats your boat, right?