Some months back, I was talking to a co-worker while on break, and he was basically telling me that when he was a kid that he was the sort that was always getting into fist fights, said he was just a rotten human being. And so I asked him what it was that turned him around, and he said – while being all serious – something like, “I had to learn to love myself.” LOL!
Now understand, he’s a big, gruff-looking guy. He really is. And so when he said that, I nearly fell out of my chair laughing! (Fortunately for me he laughed with me, thus I’m able to post the question due to still being alive. :))
Who was it that originated this embarrassing phrase is what I’d like to know? (My best guess is that it was probably Alan Alda.) And, too, do you know of any other phrase (or phrases) that could be regarded as being in the same girly-man genre? I’d get a kick out of hearing them, if so.
Thanks for your comments … and allow me to say that this is one cool website, can’t imagine there’s a better one out there than this one … with so many interesting, bright and friendly people! I’m thrilled to be here.
I had a co-worker who was always whining, and I remarked to another co-worker, “She just needs to give herself permission to be happy.” I don’t know if that was original with me or not.
Did you just wake up after a 30 year nap?
For me the most un-manly phrase is any phrase that seeks to find out is something is manly-enough to be said.
A real man defines himself and doesn’t worry if someone else may think what they said wasn’t manyly enough.
Save for that guy I saw banging his head on a wall the other day (and he told me it felt good when he stopped when I asked why he was doing it :dubious: ), I’d say that it goes without saying that EVERY living creature loves itself to a pretty substancial degree. The Good Lord imbued us – wisely! – to at least have some self-love to help us make it through life.
I think a much better thing to hammer into people’s heads would be to say, Treat your self with respect AND others! To me, the lack of respect that’s going on in the world is at the core of so many problems we face each day. But that’s not to say that everyone is worthy of respect, 'cause some (or many) should be in prison or worse, on account of how they treat their fellow human beings!
In my book, EVERYONE is granted respect (from me) until they blow it by what they do to me or say to me, and that includes how I see them treat others, as well. (By the way, perhaps I was a little unkind to Alan Alda, he’s in fact a fine person as far as I’m aware. Sorry Mr. Alda!! :smack: )
But none of this is of course to say that there aren’t those that have had their self- esteem so butchered by mean people that they’re broken in their souls; to those we should all lend our kindness to, definitely!
I’m merely talking here about the fact that so many of these pop-psychologists these days go overboard with it. And as someone mentioned (on this thread), Dr. Phil is one that seems to use it a lot. And he does.
And not only that, but often I’ve noticed that these TV experts will have some of the most vicious(!) people on their stage … actually be telling the creep(s) the BS line about needing to “love” themselves!?!
Hogwash! They need to learn to love OTHERS!! :mad:
I remember once when I was a young 20something me and some friends were up at the local [del]meat market[/del] bar.
While there I happened to notice a rather attractive looking girl sitting about three table down from us. I told my friend about it who was sitting right next to me. She (my friend) then urged me to go up and say something to her.
Back in those days I was a little bit more shy than I am now so I was like “Naw” and my friend was like “Yeesss”. This went back and forth for like 5 minutes until finally I capitulated and went up to talk to the girl.
I think I got about two words out before the love of my life told me to kiss off. So, I tucked my tail between my legs and ran back to the table where my friends were at. To which I immediately went over to my friend who convinced me to go over there in the first fucking place; I thew my arms around her waist, laid my head on her bosom and said: “SHE TOLD ME TO KISS OFF!! [sniff, sniff,boo, hoo]Hold me, [sniff] tell me I’m pretty”
Maybe you had to be there to get the humor but it was pretty damned funny at the time.
There is a difference between “un-manly” and “girly-man.” The most girly-man thing would be something like “I can’t wait to get home and play with my new dollies.” The most unmanly would be something like “If you ____, I’ll kill you.” You see, I define manliness as having the strength not to blurt out some threat or exaggerated assertion of aggression. Such comments reek of desperation.
Therefore, I nominate “I can’t wait to get home and play with my new dollies.”
