Things I Have Learned About Being a Man.

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Negative things I have learned about being a Man?

1. I am replaceable. Nothing I accomplish actually matters, and another male could be slotted into my place with minimal interruption.
2. I am expected to die first for my nation/family. My life has less value than others.
3. It is wrong for me to have opinions about gender or racial issues.
4. I will lose a custody battle to spend time with my children.
5. I will be held responsible for the actions of other males.

Welcome to Manhood.

Ever heard the Beach Boys song "When I grow up to be a man"?

Yes.

Ever here the Percy Faith instrumental rendition of "Them to 'A Summer Place'"?

Both pieces of music are nice to listen to; but neither is relevant to this thread.

I don't agree. I think the Beach Boys song is quite relevant to the thread.

It might not reflect the bare-bones "reality" of being a man--but it deals with the process of growing up in a (perhaps) idealized way.

Ideals, as well as reality, are necessary for people.

In a large part of the world, to become a man you must serve in the army. In some countries, you won't be able to get a decent job without serving.

My creative outlet is writing, which doesn't really require social skills. Unless, of course, you don't want all of your characters to talk and act like autistic people.

In my opinion:

Platitudes/song lyrics are never relevant to real life. All they do is tug at your "heart strings". That's their purpose.

Also, if you are under 30 and still growing up, pay particular attention to what Fnord has to say. Then use your head.

Yes, there is something about the life-and-death responsibility of a military posting that makes a lot of people grow up fast. Employers see that; and, all else being equal, will usually hire the military veteran over the career civilian.Well said. And by "tugging at your heart strings", they tend to enrich the wealth of those who produce such drivel.

So, I'll add one more observation: "Life is not accompanied by a custom-composed musical score". There is no orchestra following you off-screen to communicate the appropriate mood for your every life event - no soaring strings for your triumphs, and no wa-wa trombones for your failures. Life's scene are largely unrehearsed, unacompanied, and not likely to allow any re-takes.

Yes. All of this "Political Correctness" crap is emasculating. These days, a man can be dismissed from his job for nothing worse than laughing out loud over something he heard over the phone.

Most employment these days is "at will", which means anyone can be fired at any time for any reason. Or even no reason.

In the US.

Everywhere.

In many places, people are fired before receiving their first paycheck, and then their pay is withheld for no reason.

Where I work, you pretty much can't be fired for anything short of criminal acts, especially if you have been there more than 5 years. The flip side of this is that many horribly incompetent, unqualified, lazy people are in position they have no business in (and I want it for myself!).

I should have said, "in most 'Western' countries, people can't be fired arbitrarily, like they can in the US."

^ You could've in the UK back before we joined the EU. Thanks to the EU, we have many acts which protect employees (can't be forced to do more than 48 hours a week, no unfair dismissal, no discrimination, paternity leave for men, etc.), but that's a whole other discussion.