# If Putin gets any more manly he's going to need a wheelbarrow for his 'nads **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 26, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566 "2010-08-26T18:20:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/21 "2010-08-27T17:20:42Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > > [@Surok](#): > > > > Not just manly…but [sexy](http://i.imgur.com/mNfAo.jpg) too, apparently (SFW) > > Western, as well as Russian, women are swooning. A page about the Putin “action figure,” modeled on his shirtless-fishing photo op, included these comments, > > > [@Lethe](#): > > > > WANT. oh yes. Want. Action figure? It’s only an action figure? DAMNIT! Still want! > > I don’t entirely get it, but… Neither do I. I never caught the gay, but I’m swooning too! Oh Vlad! ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/22 "2010-08-27T17:45:38Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > Look downwards, look for, where - you? You are by a boat. > > Seriously, the Smell as the person, the person. “Look down, look up, where are you? You’re in a boat. Smell like a man, man.” Playing off **Monkey** , I wanted to get the boat in there. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/23 "2010-08-28T17:43:28Z")
I’ll bet he looks just dreamy when he orders the murder of another opponent while working out. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/24 "2010-08-28T18:45:48Z")
Hey, I wouldn’t mind having him do all my yard work, too, but that’s not a euphemism and I don’t find him sexy. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/25 "2010-08-30T09:29:14Z")
He’s more machine now than man, twisted and evil. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/26 "2010-08-30T09:52:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Putin has been canny about his plans to run in the 2012 presidential election Well. I imagine the Republicans making much of that in 2012. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/27 "2010-08-30T12:20:03Z")
Can Sarah see him working out from her house? ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/28 "2010-08-30T15:26:15Z")
I think it’s interesting how Russia tends to create these types of leaders, no matter what their government is. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/29 "2010-08-30T15:38:13Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > I think it’s interesting how Russia tends to create these types of leaders, no matter what their government is. The one time I went to Russia, there was a lot of glowing talk of Peter the Great; specifically, that he was a rugged man of the people who went out and did physical labor, worked with the people, etc. It seems likely that he’s trying to conjure the same image, but also missing the point that killing wild animals with his bare hands isn’t the same thing as tilling a farm – which is more the sort of thing that Peter did (according to what I was told). ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/30 "2010-08-30T16:07:36Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > > [@Todderbob](#): > > > > I think it’s interesting how Russia tends to create these types of leaders, no matter what their government is. > > The one time I went to Russia, there was a lot of glowing talk of Peter the Great; specifically, that he was a rugged man of the people who went out and did physical labor, worked with the people, etc. It seems likely that he’s trying to conjure the same image, but also missing the point that killing wild animals with his bare hands isn’t the same thing as tilling a farm – which is more the sort of thing that Peter did (according to what I was told). You sure it was _Peter_? I’m on my phone so it’d kind of be a pain in the ass to look it up, but wasn’t he the fancy francophile? ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/31 "2010-08-30T16:18:40Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > I admit I don’t understand it- is it supposed to make him more appealing- and to who? I didn’t think the opposition was that strong over there. He’s building a cult of personality, increasing his name recognition, and stockpiling public perception points for the future. In the West, something that obvious would quickly be parodied and satarized to death, but it seems to be working for him in Russia. ---
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/32 "2010-08-30T16:23:05Z")
Though Peter I was greatly influenced by Western European modes and methods of modernization, I think calling him a “fancy Francophile” sounds…unclear, to say the least. Peter was extraordinarily capable from an early age, and engaged in all sorts of typically-“strong” activities–shipbuilding, sailing, training with his model army regiment, as well as teaching himself a number of hobbies like carpentry and, um, torture. He probably personally tortured his son at one point. Legends still surround him. > [@](#): > > According to legend, it was in November, while at Lakhta along the Finnish Gulf to inspect some ironworks, that Peter saw a group of soldiers drowning not far from shore and, wading out into near-waist deep water, came to their rescue. Balls like grapefruits, that one. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/33 "2010-08-30T16:24:05Z")
> [@Tranquilis](#): > > > [@Cicero](#): > > > > I admit I don’t understand it- is it supposed to make him more appealing- and to who? I didn’t think the opposition was that strong over there. > > He’s building a cult of personality, increasing his name recognition, and stockpiling public perception points for the future. **In the West, something that obvious would quickly be parodied and satarized to death, but it seems to be working for him in Russia.** That and the fact that there’s probably genuine risk involved in making fun of Putin. Deadly risk. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/34 "2010-08-30T16:29:27Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > That and the fact that there’s probably genuine risk involved in making fun of Putin. Deadly risk. Good point. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/35 "2010-08-30T16:55:30Z")
> [@apollonia](#): > > Though Peter I was greatly influenced by Western European modes and methods of modernization, I think calling him a “fancy Francophile” sounds…unclear, to say the least. Peter was extraordinarily capable from an early age, and engaged in all sorts of typically-“strong” activities–shipbuilding, sailing, training with his model army regiment, as well as teaching himself a number of hobbies like carpentry and, um, torture. He probably personally tortured his son at one point. > > Legends still surround him. > > > [@](#): > > > > According to legend, it was in November, while at Lakhta along the Finnish Gulf to inspect some ironworks, that Peter saw a group of soldiers drowning not far from shore and, wading out into near-waist deep water, came to their rescue. > > Balls like grapefruits, that one. I guess they helped by acting as floatations devices. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/36 "2010-08-30T17:13:01Z")
> [@apollonia](#): > > Legends still surround him. > > > [@](#): > > > > According to legend, it was in November, while at Lakhta along the Finnish Gulf to inspect some ironworks, that Peter saw a group of soldiers drowning not far from shore and, wading out into near-waist deep water, came to their rescue. > > Balls like grapefruits, that one. How do you drown in waist deep water? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/37 "2010-08-30T17:19:59Z")
> [@treis](#): > > How do you drown in waist deep water? I think you die from exposure being unable to swim in the gulf in November. I don’t remember anything about wading when I read about the incident in Robert K. Massie’s _Peter the Great,_ though. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/38 "2010-08-30T17:38:22Z")
Unfortunately for Putin, he’s already confiscated all of Russia’s wheelbarrows to cart around all his money. When accused of secretly being one of the wealthiest men in the world Putin replied, “It is true that I am the richest man in the world, for I possess the love of the Russian people.” He truly is a terrifying little man. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/39 "2010-08-30T18:45:38Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > > > The one time I went to Russia, there was a lot of glowing talk of Peter the Great; specifically, that he was a rugged man of the people who went out and did physical labor, worked with the people, etc. It seems likely that he’s trying to conjure the same image, but also missing the point that killing wild animals with his bare hands isn’t the same thing as tilling a farm – which is more the sort of thing that Peter did (according to what I was told). > > You sure it was _Peter_? I’m on my phone so it’d kind of be a pain in the ass to look it up, but wasn’t he the fancy francophile? Yeah, it was [Peter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_great) all right. There was nothing “fancy” about him. We’re talking about a guy who was almost 7 feet tall, and extremely rugged. (He even attempted to learn to practice dentistry – according to rumor, you didn’t dare mention a toothache around him, or he’d attempt to yank it out!) You didn’t fuck with this guy. **Treis** – technically, you can drown in an inch of water. In this case, it may only have been waist deep for Peter himself. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566/40 "2010-08-30T19:40:00Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > Unfortunately for Putin, he’s already confiscated all of Russia’s wheelbarrows to cart around all his money. > > When accused of secretly being one of the wealthiest men in the world Putin replied, “It is true that I am the richest man in the world, for I possess the love of the Russian people.” > > He truly is a terrifying little man. I, for one, welcome our new Russian Overlord. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-putin-gets-any-more-manly-hes-going-to-need-a-wheelbarrow-for-his-nads/551566.md?page=3)