- Joined
- Mar 24, 2013
Remember this is y'know, just like, uh...my opinion, man.
1. Always treat women right. A man doesn't strike, insult, belittle or otherwise mistreat his lady. He supports her, holds her, listens to her, comforts her, and makes her feel like she's the only woman in the world. Never cheat on her or disrespect her.
2. Learn to shave like your Grampa. Get yourself a nice shaving kit. Good shaving soap, not that canned crap you get at Walmart. Get a lather bowl and brush. Most importantly, get a high quality razor, not those crappy multi-blade units. Get a nice safety razor. Yes they cost more than your Schick Mach 3's or Gillette Fusions at first, but you'll actually save money getting double sided blades. A pack of 100 blade refills will set you back $30 or so. They give you a closer shave, last longer, are better for the environment if you're into that kind of thing, and are actually more affordable in the long run. Plus there is something very masculine about grooming yourself with a tool that, if you don't take care and treat it with respect, it WILL draw your blood. Bonus manly points if you learn to use a cut throat razor. That's a whole different level right there because now you're using something that can kill you if you slip your hand wrong. There is something almost zen and meditative shaving with old fashioned razors. You have to slow down, take your time, do things in steps, and pay close attention if your don't want to butcher your face. Hell, at times you have to bring your first aid skills into play if you nick your chin too bad. Using tools that can seriously mangle your rugged good looks if you cock it up is manly.
3. Real men know how to drive a stick shift. This is a skill that I think everyone should learn, but men especially. Men have a special relationship with their vehicles and a stick makes one feel more connected to their machine, like they're an integral part of it. Plus in an emergency a stick shift vehicle may be the only thing that's available to you.
4. Learn how to ride a motorcycle. Motorcycles are very manly machines. They take strength, coordination, finesse, and guts to ride. A motorcycle makes you feel like you are a part of it, even more so than a car or truck. You use your whole body to ride a motorcycle because you have to lean with it to turn it. It requires brains, skill, and cojones to ride a 300-900lb machine that offers no protection if you make a mistake. Plus boots and leather make you look like an alpha male badass. Doesn't matter how ugly you are because with that skid lid on your head every guy looks like Chris Hemsworth.
5. Find an appreciation for artistic things and literature. Music, art, books...all these things expand your mind. Women like an intelligent man who has a sense of class.
6. Expand your vocabulary and learn to use it. Eloquence is an excellent trait of manliness. It shows women that you are a man who is intelligent and have better ways of expressing yourself besides monosyllabic drivel and, worse yet, can only drive your point home with profanity.
7. Men have manners. Pulling a woman's chair out for her, opening the door for her, offering her your arm when you walk, giving her your jacket when it's cold...etiquette shows your woman that you have class and are not some farting, belching, uncouth simpleton.
8. Learn how to dress and groom yourself. You don't have to be a clean shaven stiff, but at least put some thought into your attire. Again, women love a man with class.
9. Facial hair is manly, especially when you are well groomed. A rockin' 'stache, a finely sculpted goatee, a tidy and well trimmed beard, a pair of finely cultivated chops...facial hair is what separates the men from the boys.
10. Learn how to take care of at least some things on your car. At the least learn how to change the oil, spark plugs, and light bulbs on your vehicle. Learn more if you can. You can save money just by learning how to take care of a few simple things like the oil yourself instead of paying someone else to do it, and it will make you feel manly getting some grease under your nails.
11. Pampering isn't just for the ladies. Things like high quality shampoos, high quality shaving soaps instead of that crappy gels, aftershave and oils, massages, even manicures can be manly. High quality shaving soaps instead of that garbage they pedal at your local RXall or Wally World are one of the best investments you can get in to grooming wise. A good quality puck of shaving soap or tub of shaving cream gives you a smoother shave with less irritation and is better for your skin and facial hair. You can even go one step beyond and get a pre-shave lotion that will make your razor glide even smoother than soap/cream alone. It softens your beard, moisturizes your skin, and provides a soothing lubricant for your razor, a MUST if you use a safety razor or cut throat razor. You'll get less razor burn and nicks and virtually eliminate ingrown hairs. Taking care of yourself doesn't make you a sissy.
12. Buy a gun and learn how to use it. A man should have a means of defending his family and loved ones, and himself of course, and be skilled in it's use and maintenance. You're the man of the house, the patriarch. It is your responsibility to provide security and safety for your lady, your children, and your home. Target practice is an excellent way to work out stress and requires work and dedication to build your marksmanship skills. It's not enough to learn to punch holes in paper accurately, you must learn to use the weapon for defense. Defense of yourself and your home, but most importantly defense of your wife and children. Cleaning and maintaining your weapon is equally important. Like shaving, cleaning your weapon can be very relaxing and even zen like. You can clear your mind of all your worries and just focus on the task at hand. Having a simple task for your hands while allowing your mind to relax and just focus on the cleaning can reduce stress. It works with other things like stirring a cup of tea or even twiddling your thumbs while letting everything else leave your mind for five minutes or so has been proven to reduce stress and tension. I like to think of a phrase while cleaning my weapons. "Break the machine, clean the machine. Break the machine, clean the machine." It's something my Dad taught me.
13. Share your skills and passions. Learn to be a teacher. Teaching people, especially your kids, new skills that someone taught you once upon a time is an excellent way to bond and to keep traditions alive. It creates memories and as I said keeps traditions alive. And one day that person will pass those skills and traditions to someone else.
14. Don't worry about going grey or your hair thinning. Grey hair makes a man look distinguished and dignified and there are many sexy, manly men with no hair. Look at Vin Diesel. If your hair is going thin and you don't like it just shave it bald. Don't try to color your grey hair. It makes you seem desperate and insecure, very unmanly.
That's my list. Feel free to comment with anything else you'd like to add and together we can keep the traditions of the masculine alive and well.
1. Always treat women right. A man doesn't strike, insult, belittle or otherwise mistreat his lady. He supports her, holds her, listens to her, comforts her, and makes her feel like she's the only woman in the world. Never cheat on her or disrespect her.
2. Learn to shave like your Grampa. Get yourself a nice shaving kit. Good shaving soap, not that canned crap you get at Walmart. Get a lather bowl and brush. Most importantly, get a high quality razor, not those crappy multi-blade units. Get a nice safety razor. Yes they cost more than your Schick Mach 3's or Gillette Fusions at first, but you'll actually save money getting double sided blades. A pack of 100 blade refills will set you back $30 or so. They give you a closer shave, last longer, are better for the environment if you're into that kind of thing, and are actually more affordable in the long run. Plus there is something very masculine about grooming yourself with a tool that, if you don't take care and treat it with respect, it WILL draw your blood. Bonus manly points if you learn to use a cut throat razor. That's a whole different level right there because now you're using something that can kill you if you slip your hand wrong. There is something almost zen and meditative shaving with old fashioned razors. You have to slow down, take your time, do things in steps, and pay close attention if your don't want to butcher your face. Hell, at times you have to bring your first aid skills into play if you nick your chin too bad. Using tools that can seriously mangle your rugged good looks if you cock it up is manly.
3. Real men know how to drive a stick shift. This is a skill that I think everyone should learn, but men especially. Men have a special relationship with their vehicles and a stick makes one feel more connected to their machine, like they're an integral part of it. Plus in an emergency a stick shift vehicle may be the only thing that's available to you.
4. Learn how to ride a motorcycle. Motorcycles are very manly machines. They take strength, coordination, finesse, and guts to ride. A motorcycle makes you feel like you are a part of it, even more so than a car or truck. You use your whole body to ride a motorcycle because you have to lean with it to turn it. It requires brains, skill, and cojones to ride a 300-900lb machine that offers no protection if you make a mistake. Plus boots and leather make you look like an alpha male badass. Doesn't matter how ugly you are because with that skid lid on your head every guy looks like Chris Hemsworth.
5. Find an appreciation for artistic things and literature. Music, art, books...all these things expand your mind. Women like an intelligent man who has a sense of class.
6. Expand your vocabulary and learn to use it. Eloquence is an excellent trait of manliness. It shows women that you are a man who is intelligent and have better ways of expressing yourself besides monosyllabic drivel and, worse yet, can only drive your point home with profanity.
7. Men have manners. Pulling a woman's chair out for her, opening the door for her, offering her your arm when you walk, giving her your jacket when it's cold...etiquette shows your woman that you have class and are not some farting, belching, uncouth simpleton.
8. Learn how to dress and groom yourself. You don't have to be a clean shaven stiff, but at least put some thought into your attire. Again, women love a man with class.
9. Facial hair is manly, especially when you are well groomed. A rockin' 'stache, a finely sculpted goatee, a tidy and well trimmed beard, a pair of finely cultivated chops...facial hair is what separates the men from the boys.
10. Learn how to take care of at least some things on your car. At the least learn how to change the oil, spark plugs, and light bulbs on your vehicle. Learn more if you can. You can save money just by learning how to take care of a few simple things like the oil yourself instead of paying someone else to do it, and it will make you feel manly getting some grease under your nails.
11. Pampering isn't just for the ladies. Things like high quality shampoos, high quality shaving soaps instead of that crappy gels, aftershave and oils, massages, even manicures can be manly. High quality shaving soaps instead of that garbage they pedal at your local RXall or Wally World are one of the best investments you can get in to grooming wise. A good quality puck of shaving soap or tub of shaving cream gives you a smoother shave with less irritation and is better for your skin and facial hair. You can even go one step beyond and get a pre-shave lotion that will make your razor glide even smoother than soap/cream alone. It softens your beard, moisturizes your skin, and provides a soothing lubricant for your razor, a MUST if you use a safety razor or cut throat razor. You'll get less razor burn and nicks and virtually eliminate ingrown hairs. Taking care of yourself doesn't make you a sissy.
12. Buy a gun and learn how to use it. A man should have a means of defending his family and loved ones, and himself of course, and be skilled in it's use and maintenance. You're the man of the house, the patriarch. It is your responsibility to provide security and safety for your lady, your children, and your home. Target practice is an excellent way to work out stress and requires work and dedication to build your marksmanship skills. It's not enough to learn to punch holes in paper accurately, you must learn to use the weapon for defense. Defense of yourself and your home, but most importantly defense of your wife and children. Cleaning and maintaining your weapon is equally important. Like shaving, cleaning your weapon can be very relaxing and even zen like. You can clear your mind of all your worries and just focus on the task at hand. Having a simple task for your hands while allowing your mind to relax and just focus on the cleaning can reduce stress. It works with other things like stirring a cup of tea or even twiddling your thumbs while letting everything else leave your mind for five minutes or so has been proven to reduce stress and tension. I like to think of a phrase while cleaning my weapons. "Break the machine, clean the machine. Break the machine, clean the machine." It's something my Dad taught me.
13. Share your skills and passions. Learn to be a teacher. Teaching people, especially your kids, new skills that someone taught you once upon a time is an excellent way to bond and to keep traditions alive. It creates memories and as I said keeps traditions alive. And one day that person will pass those skills and traditions to someone else.
14. Don't worry about going grey or your hair thinning. Grey hair makes a man look distinguished and dignified and there are many sexy, manly men with no hair. Look at Vin Diesel. If your hair is going thin and you don't like it just shave it bald. Don't try to color your grey hair. It makes you seem desperate and insecure, very unmanly.
That's my list. Feel free to comment with anything else you'd like to add and together we can keep the traditions of the masculine alive and well.
)
People who believe knives are good self defense weapons have never heard of a baseball bat.
