End of the Manly Man?

Meanderer said:
A century ago, Manly was a popular man's name. In 2009 I researched a photo of people playing Croquet in front of a big house, in Clinton Maine. It was built in 1888, by Manly Morrison, a real Mover and Shaker in the Town of Clinton. I never found a picture of Manly, but this is a picture, that I just found online. He owned the first Stanley Steamer in town, and was a Town leader and entrepreneur. He also owned the Towns Croquet factory, so he may be one of the men in the picture, but I could never find proof.

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Well, hopefully Maney was, well, manly 🤣
 

Were all too old to change each other's life experiences or opinions.
I think it is a change in perception, a shift in societal thinking, some like it, some don't.
Geneticist have their chromosome studies-ah an explanation. No, don't buy it.
Our knowledge grows faster than one person can keep track of the changes.
We of many decades have our personal experiences and opinions, don't think they will change.
 
I remember twenty years ago whilst going through the changing rooms at work, one young man half my age then, so in his twenties, returning to the changing rooms because he'd forgotten to spray his underarms with antiperspirant.
I doubt he had any body odour issues, and there were showers to use, I just think it was part of the routine for his generation every day, whilst I'd only use "Brute" or whatever brand was prevalent at the time, when preparing to go out socialising.
As an aside there was a young secretary who worked in an office with the bosses secretary who did have some body odour issues, much to the discomfort of the other lady, but we were all glad to say she improved in that department eventually! :)
 
This one time I'll keep my mouth shut and let the cat do the talking
 

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We must all be able to think of men we were a bit in awe of growing up, us slightly "beta males", who can't beat our chests so loudly.

Physical strength came into it obviously, and some were icons of screen and cinema, or sporting heroes, (Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Cassius/Mohammed Ali,), but some of them proved to have feet of clay didn't they, going off the rails later in life perhaps.

In my lifetime there was a lad called Clive at school, who was a sporting star, good at everything, loads of friends, with blonde hair, very successful and popular with the local girls, he stood out head and shoulders above everyone else.

Another lad who unlike Clive was more of a mate than someone I was in awe of, but he was almost as hood at sport, had a long term girlfriend etc., but both died tragically young before their full potential was anything like reached.

Those who have achieved the most from my school days were lads I'd never have imagined could go so far, one who was almost up there in sport, and captained our team, and was very bright academically, is now the vice chancellor of a prestigious university in Scotland, and was knighted five years ago for his achievements. You wouldn't have described him as a manly man at all, but he's exceeded everyone else in my year I believe.
 
I believe what is a "male" man is whatever floats your boat. You have your own interpretation of male beauty. One thing that has always got me was when some put forth John Wayne as the ideal of manliness. Yeah, "The Duke" was an actor, who portrayed a hard drinkin', two fisted, ladies' magnet. Off screen, he was differnt person. What always cracked me up was the "John Wayne Walk, it's hard to see manly male with that strut. Yet some do. It's what floats your boat.
 
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SeaBreeze said:
There's more and more men nowadays shaving their legs, waxing their chests and eyebrows, now even wearing make up on a daily basis. I saw on a morning talk show this guy who used make up every morning just like a woman, because it evened out his skin tone and made him look healthier. I think more and more men are becoming more feminine...I like a man with chest hair (and a pair). :hair: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...-increasing-pressure-beautify-themselves.html
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Forget all that crap. I doubt if very few men in our generation do those things, but I believe we may be the last generation to do them. My grandfather’s and then my dad’s generations were real men to me. Different time, different people, different things of importance.
 
We have a lot of effeminate men where I work. Most are younger. If I were younger they would not appeal to me. Some may be cute but I prefer something more sensual and manly. To me a man bun and skinny jeans is not what I consider manly.

Oh I just had a thought...they're too GQ.
 
Nathan said:
I see this development as strictly a product of successful mental manipulation through brilliant product marketing. First women, now men. Advertising subtling shaping our society, our lives to want what is being sold.

Back in the mid sixties: remember how the Beatlemania swept the U.S., influencing clothing and hair styles? Nothing's changed, except that with the internet and social media and all the bots and AIs, our innermost impulse tenancies are being exploited by retailers and sellers of all types.
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A lot of truth in what you said @Nathan. I started this thread in 2013, and I think the topic, especially related to body builders was on a TV show or something, and it triggered my posting about this.

I really always was open-minded and have grown a lot even since 2013. I still don't care for men who are narcissistic body builders, but that's their business, we all have reasons for doing the things we do.

Growing up in the sixties, there were a lot of guys who started wearing their hair long, and I loved it, still do. It had nothing really to do with their manhood, in fact they had to have been more confident about themselves to even do that and face ridicule.

Over time, since my teens really, I've seen a lot of men with different styles, a little make up, piercings, whatever, is fine with me, who am I to judge? And you're right, the marketing towards men these day in the area of appearance is just as strong as it is toward the women.

The older I get the more I appreciate each individual for what is inside their heart, not their physical appearance or preferences. Men certainly don't have to look and act 'macho' for me to like them and respect them.

Back in the day like in the 40s and 50s, I think some men spent their entire lives trying to look and act more macho, they feared ever even being seen crying, because it was a sign of weakness and something only women did. Some didn't even want to be seen cooking, cleaning or anything they labeled as women's housework. Those men were likely less 'manly' deep inside than the modern day guys.

Times have changed, and for the better in my opinion. Life is good and I respect all others, except those who harm animals or other human beings. Appearance is pretty petty, it's what's inside that matters.
 
Ruthanne said:
Good for you. The men I spoke of who were feminine looking, though, were not gay. David Bowie BTW was not gay either.
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Yes, I understand with well known celebrities that a lot of their appearance especially during a performance could vary, and have nothing to do with their private lives. I always liked Bowie, his looks, music and style.
 
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I'm not saying it's wrong for men to look effeminate, I'm just saying I wouldn't want to date it. That has nothing to do with what they're like on the inside.
 
SeaBreeze said:
A lot of truth in what you said @Nathan. I started this thread in 2013, and I think the topic, especially related to body builders was on a TV show or something, and it triggered my posting about this.

I really always was open-minded and have grown a lot even since 2013. I still don't care for men who are narcissistic body builders, but that's their business, we all have reasons for doing the things we do.

Growing up in the sixties, there were a lot of guys who started wearing their hair long, and I loved it, still do. It had nothing really to do with their manhood, in fact they had to have been more confident about themselves to even do that and face ridicule.

Over time, since my teens really, I've seen a lot of men with different styles, a little make up, piercings, whatever, is fine with me, who am I to judge? And you're right, the marketing towards men these day in the area of appearance is just as strong as it is toward the women.

The older I get the more I appreciate each individual for what is inside their heart, not their physical appearance or preferences. Men certainly don't have to look and act 'macho' for me to like them and respect them.

Back in the day like in the 40s and 50s, I think some men spent their entire lives trying to look and act more macho, they feared ever even being seen crying, because it was a sign of weakness and something only women did. Some didn't even want to be seen cooking, cleaning or anything they labeled as women's housework. Those men were likely less 'manly' deep inside than the modern day guys.

Times have changed, and for the better in my opinion. Life is good and I respect all others, except those who harm animals or other human beings. Appearance is pretty petty, it's what's inside that matters.
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SeaBreeze, such a true and powerful statement. May I please post it for my clients?some of them really need to hear this 🤗
 
Do men wear perfume? It was a thought that made think of starting a new thread but this thread sort of debates a man's man. Perfume can be after shave, or deodorant or fragrance. I have always, from an early age, given my neck a squirt of male fragrance after washing and it has never had any sort of negative comment. On the contrary, time and again my wife has been told that: "Your husband smells nice." Such is the verdict when you social kiss your friend's wives.

To me, being sociably agreeable, means a fresh fragrance, fresh breath and clean appearance. Manly or not, I couldn't expect my wife to hold hands with me if I hadn't made sure that my finger nails were not scrupulously clean. If that cuts against the manly definition, so be it.
 
peramangkelder said:
Would you believe there is a beachside suburb in Northern Sydney in the state of New South Wales in Australia called Manly
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Yep, it was named by Captain Arthur Phillip for the Indigenous people living there, stating that "their confidence and manly behaviour made me give the name of Manly Cove to this place". These men were of the Kay-ye-my clan (of the Guringai people).
 
If a woman loves a man, she will love him when he smells like sweat, has dirt under his fingernails and calluses on his hands.
Yes, fresh breath, manly fragrance and clean appearance are also wonderful. debonaire, distinguished, class!

My first husbands pockets were always filled with barfly's phone numbers. When I did my 2nd huband's laundry, i found fender washers.
I ran to him and kissed him over and over!

Seabreeze said it right! A real man has chest hair and a pair!
 
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horseless carriage said:
Do men wear perfume? It was a thought that made think of starting a new thread but this thread sort of debates a man's man. Perfume can be after shave, or deodorant or fragrance. I have always, from an early age, given my neck a squirt of male fragrance after washing and it has never had any sort of negative comment. On the contrary, time and again my wife has been told that: "Your husband smells nice." Such is the verdict when you social kiss your friend's wives.
To me, being sociably agreeable, means a fresh fragrance, fresh breath and clean appearance. Manly or not, I couldn't expect my wife to hold hands with me if I hadn't made sure that my finger nails were not scrupulously clean. If that cuts against the manly definition, so be it.
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I think you may be a bit of an exception or outlier on keeping your finger nails so clean and not expecting your wife to hold hands otherwise, (though my farming mates probably wouldn't hold hands with their missus's in public anyway!), though I don't think it makes you any less a man, not least because I can't imagine James Bond having dirty finger nails either! :)
 

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