Poll: The 'Real' Man Debate

[SidheKnight]

"Real" men don't care what other people think.

Actually, this applies to all people. Real women don't care about public opinion either.

 

[irishmanwithagun]

"Real men" should be who they really are and be comfortable with themselves, including their appearance.

Recently I have been in a debate with family and friends over how men should/shouldn't act/dress. This mainly started with my family when I started dying/straitening my hair and focusing more on my appearance. Now the official debate started when my mom found out (through conversations) I wore eyeliner and shaved most of my body hair. She started saying how 'real' men shouldn't shave and should not wear make-up.

So I suppose my question is, do 'real' men care about their looks, or do they not? What are your thoughts and opinions on this?

Answering in general first... You have the wrong question.

Yes, men should care about their looks.

However, making yourself look more like a girl is not the way a "real man" would take care of his looks. A man should be trying to look more masculine, not more feminine.

Now the exception to this rule is if you are gay/bi. If you are also looking to attract men then it may be totally appropriate and manly to make yourself look more feminine as many gay men are attracted to fem guys.

To the specifics of your case, I think eyeliner looks stupid on men, but then I don't like a lot on women either. Certainly in THIS culture eyeliner is for women, but that has changed over time (in ancient egypt for example men wore it). It's sort of like the kilt/skirt thing, what is feminine depends on the culture, and culture does change.

Shaving your body hair. Sorry, that's VERY feminine. Women have less and finer body hair then men naturally. You are excentuating a female attribute and thus you look more feminine. Yes, people can link big body builders with no chest hair, still makes you look more feminine than you otherwise would, especially if you don't have HUGE muscles that you are trying to display.

I think you'll find homosexual preferences in men to be as various in men as they are with heterosexual preferences in women.

I'd say that a "real man" would do what they feel comfortable doing. If they like maintaining their appearance then they should do that, if they don't then they shouldn't, it's a massively complicated issue that affects all of us so why do people have to make such a big deal about this?

 

[BeeGeenie]

Real men have a dick and balls. Biology folks.

The scientific definition of a man is having a Y chromosome.
Even if you're castrated, scientifically you're still a man.

What if you have two Y chromosomes?

Men with an extra Y chromosome (XYY syndrome) are still just men.

People with other chromosomal syndromes (klinefelter's/XXY syndrome) are also usually considered male as long as they have at least one Y chromosome.

There's also Swyer syndrome in which one X chromosome is incomplete, resulting in essentially an XY female; but that's an abnormal x chromosome, not a true y chromosome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XY_sex-determination_system

 

[V da Mighty Taco]

Recently I have been in a debate with family and friends over how men should/shouldn't act/dress. This mainly started with my family when I started dying/straitening my hair and focusing more on my appearance. Now the official debate started when my mom found out (through conversations) I wore eyeliner and shaved most of my body hair. She started saying how 'real' men shouldn't shave and should not wear make-up.

So I suppose my question is, do 'real' men care about their looks, or do they not? What are your thoughts and opinions on this?

I'm quite curious as to how'd she react if you told her you were a brony? (I am NOT saying that you are) Anyways, a grown man can do whatever he wants so long as no one gets physically or seriously mentally hurt from it. If make-up floats your boat, wear your freakin' make-up.

 

[CrazyDave DC]

"Don't try to be a great man, just be a man, and let history make its own judgements." - Zefram Cochrane

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

"Real" men don't care what other people think.

Actually, this applies to all people. Real women don't care about public opinion either.

There's no difference between public and private opinion. Anything you think privately comes from other people - culture. So if you care about anything, it's what other people think.

 

[devotedsniper]

Personally? I can't look any guy in the eye if there wearing make up (unless it's some medical thing, e.g. acne and the stuff isn't even make up), maybe it's just how i was brought up but i cannot stand guys who put on make up and spend more money than sense on hair products. I have nothing against those who do.

This is coming from a guy who wears comfy clothes, jeans, t-shirts, fleeces/hoodies, no hair products, shaved face, etc. I don't claim to be a manly man but even i have to say that no man should ever wear skinny jeans....NEVER... either way wear what you want, it's your choice.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

Shame there isn't a 'Who gives a shit?' option in the poll, as I would have totally jumped on that.

 

[thespyisdead]

i would say do what you want, and do not care of what people think, but personaly i would draw the line at eyeliner(but that's just me)

 

[DugMachine]

Real men shouldn't give a fuck what people think about their appearance. Now this doesn't mean people have to like it and don't expect them to.

Personally I like to go for a more rugged look/stylish. Going all natural can be a bit uncomfortable.

 

[Emperor Nat]

In my opinion, a 'real man' is a man who takes responsibility for his actions, acts in a sound, dignified and hopefully chivalrous manner, and tries to be as nice as he can. His interests, in his appearance, hobbies or otherwise, are irrelevant.

If you want my opinion on whether or not people should care... people should care about their appearance to the extent that they are not unhealthy, dirty, etc. Beyond that, if they want to look nice, let them. If they prefer not to do anything beyond the necessary, let them. It's a matter of self-image and personal preference.

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

Why are you wearing eyeliner and shaving most of your body hair man? That is kind of weird.

I's not weird. It's uncommon, but not weird. Shaving is shaving and makeup is makeup. There's nothing out of the ordinary of either, just a less-than-common application of the two.

Don't judge based on social "norms".

 

[Strazdas]

Dress however the fuck you want, there's no such thing as a fucking 'real man'.

until lyou try to find a job, and then the dressing up is dictated by stupid social norms that force you into uncomfortable clothes just to get a chance at finding work.

 

[Ytomyth]

Imo, only men who are very insecure about themselves and their masculinity care about what "real men" do. Just be you, in looks and behaviour. No, that doesn't mean "all natural", it means: do whatever the flying fudge you want. Within bounds, o/c.

EDIT: Oh, and there'll almost always be consequences. Everyone should face the ones they're responsible for. (Whether it's being judged, not hired or getting jail-time for taking your own freedom a bit too far.)

 

[karcentric]

Who cares what your mum thinks, if your happy that's what counts, I have long hair and get people asking if I'm going to cut it off and grow up. The main reason my hair is long is because I cbf cutting it. Much the same with my dress sense, I wear what fits and I think looks good on me, regardless of what others think.

If your doing it for yourself, keep on doing it.

 

[Loonyyy]

Real men don't care about what makes them real men because they are secure.

That's why I don't buy `emasculation`.
If you are secure in yourself you could walk down the street in a tutu and still feel like a man.
Obviously thats a bit extreme of an example, but whether you are a man or not is not decided by outside factors.

Awkward moment when a woman pinpoints exactly the essence of being a real man. "Real Men" are fine with being what they are, because they're secure. If you're insecure, then you're not being all that real, yeah? Moreover, if you're so insecure you have to attempt to define the social constructs of masculinity in favour of what you consider important, you're inherently "un-manly".

 

[MrMixelPixel]

A real man does what he wants?

A good man makes sure what he wants doesn't hurt others?

Shoot, I don't know...

 

[Wayneguard]

A man should listen to Manowar... that is all.

 

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

No man can comfortably wear skinny fitting jeans.

It's just not possible

I can. F*ck your logic.

My captcha is fucking jumping around the box... I'm scared.

 

[piinyouri]

A man should listen to Manowar... that is all.

Forever. For glory.
FOR METAL.