Are we all wimps?

**Col. Tartleton** · July 31, 2011, 04:10 AM

I've been reading some Hemingway quotes on the internet (a travesty, I'm not sure I have any of his books in print) and frankly I feel emasculated.

When was the last time I got drunk? Days ago.
When was the last time I went hiking in the woods? Hell when was the last time I really walked somewhere? When was the last time I went fishing? Years ago. When was the last time I killed an animal? I'm not sure I have. When was the last time I butchered something? Never, not even fishing, it was always someone else. I've never fired a real gun. I've never done martial arts or a fighting sport like boxing. I've never done a technical climb although I've read plenty of books about climbing mountains. I haven't started a fire with a purpose in a while, probably not since my family sold our camp on a lake in northern New Hampshire.

And the thing is I've done stuff. I was at one point outdoorsy, but this computer age has taken it from me. When I was younger we used to walk like 3 miles almost every day each way to town to this little grocery store for a proper glass bottled IBC root beer. Now with the same group of guys we'd

about getting off the couch to drive there.

I'm the guy who played every sport for a season and quit on it before I could ever be much good at it. We used to beat the hell out of each other with waffle bats or hell we'd use real sticks for a game. I was the kid with the primal berserk in him. I remember throwing one of my friends down a staircase when we were horse playing at his house he was only one of several combatants who were trying to gang up on me. I remember pistol whipping people during airsoft after they blasted me. I remember when I was little we had "snow wars" because snow fights are when you throw snowballs at people and they hit you back. This was organized trench warfare spanning the better part of a neighborhood. We had officers and we had plans of attack, our fights were often bare knuckle and we did what would now be termed "water boarding" only with snow to interrogate each other. No one died from it. We had games of manhunt which is basically a cross between tag and a lynch mob for those of you who haven't played it. Hell we legitimately gang beat a kid once for being a jackass and now he's one of those burn outs who

ed up his life

In our defense he started it and was talking

to a group of like ten dudes. Although it's totally cool now I've chilled with him. We were always trucking through yards with a disregard for property. I mean I've never played football on a team that wore pads, but I've played plenty of tackle football. We were ruffians in the noblest sense.

So in short I feel like I've gown more tame as I've gotten older (still not 19 yet), and I need to get back to that reckless abandon. I'm too young to be old. Hopefully I can find ways to get into trouble that don't get me into trouble. Whatever happens in college I need to get up to the lakes a few times a year for some swimming, some boating, some drinking, some fishing, hopefully some

ing, and some time in the woods.

What about you guys, do you feel your youthful vigor escaping you at an early age? Do you feel a lot older than you are?

**basics** · July 31, 2011, 04:15 AM

Col. Tartleton,

Aye, and when was the last time you gave thoughts to God?

**SPECTREtm** · July 31, 2011, 04:30 AM

basics

**Denny Crane!** · July 31, 2011, 04:46 AM

Originally Posted by Col. Tartleton

I've been reading some Hemingway quotes on the internet (a travesty, I'm not sure I have any of his books in print) and frankly I feel emasculated.

When was the last time I got drunk? Days ago.

Last night

When was the last time I went hiking in the woods?

Woods? 3 days ago with a dog. Jungle? 10 days ago in South East Asia.

Hell when was the last time I really walked somewhere?

Average 2 miles a day, 4 miles the other day.

When was the last time I went fishing? Years ago.

10 years ago but then the only value I find in fishing is for food and I was camped on a lake windsurfing with boring food and wanted fish.

When was the last time I killed an animal? I'm not sure I have. When was the last time I butchered something? Never, not even fishing, it was always someone else. I've never fired a real gun. I've never done martial arts or a fighting sport like boxing. I've never done a technical climb although I've read plenty of books about climbing mountains. I haven't started a fire with a purpose in a while, probably not since my family sold our camp on a lake in northern New Hampshire.

And the thing is I've done stuff. I was at one point outdoorsy, but this computer age has taken it from me. When I was younger we used to walk like 3 miles almost every day each way to town to this little grocery store for a proper glass bottled IBC root beer. Now with the same group of guys we'd

about getting off the couch to drive there.

I'm the guy who played every sport for a season and quit on it before I could ever be much good at it. We used to beat the hell out of each other with waffle bats or hell we'd use real sticks for a game. I was the kid with the primal berserk in him. I remember throwing one of my friends down a staircase when we were horse playing at his house he was only one of several combatants who were trying to gang up on me. I remember pistol whipping people during airsoft after they blasted me. I remember when I was little we had "snow wars" because snow fights are when you throw snowballs at people and they hit you back. This was organized trench warfare spanning the better part of a neighborhood. We had officers and we had plans of attack, our fights were often bare knuckle and we did what would now be termed "water boarding" only with snow to interrogate each other. No one died from it. We had games of manhunt which is basically a cross between tag and a lynch mob for those of you who haven't played it. Hell we legitimately gang beat a kid once for being a jackass and now he's one of those burn outs who

ed up his life

In our defense he started it and was talking

to a group of like ten dudes. Although it's totally cool now I've chilled with him. We were always trucking through yards with a disregard for property. I mean I've never played football on a team that wore pads, but I've played plenty of tackle football. We were ruffians in the noblest sense.

So in short I feel like I've gown more tame as I've gotten older (still not 19 yet), and I need to get back to that reckless abandon. I'm too young to be old. Hopefully I can find ways to get into trouble that don't get me into trouble. Whatever happens in college I need to get up to the lakes a few times a year for some swimming, some boating, some drinking, some fishing, hopefully some

ing, and some time in the woods.

What about you guys, do you feel your youthful vigor escaping you at an early age? Do you feel a lot older than you are?

Mate I'm nearly 29 and my activities are accelerating not decreasing. You need to wake up and change your life. I quit martial arts purely because a successful regime demands to much time, but I've recently taken up kettlebells and heavy bags along with some indian weighted club training. The only thing that stops me doing what I want to do is money.

That being said money prevailing I will be out in Cambodia early next year with a german mate touring the Angkor Wat amongst other things.

Originally Posted by basics

Col. Tartleton,

Aye, and when was the last time you gave thoughts to God?

Basics not everyone believes in God so why would you ask this. Keep thy religion to thyself. That is George Carlins no1 commandment and you should learn it.

**Ciabhán** · July 31, 2011, 04:59 AM

Your idea of ALL seems to be limited to a particular demographic. Apparently it's city or suburban dwelling middle class+ folks from highly developed nations.

Since I retired:

Other than the occasional meal in a restaurant I haven't eaten meat that I didn't kill/catch, clean, and cook myself(this has been the case for nearly a decade). I generally use non-motor transportation, be it walking or riding. The only time I drive is when I need the extra carrying capacity or when I need to pick up what's in the postbox(and grab the local newspaper) which happens to be close to 30 miles away.

I have limited access to this website because I use my phone as a wi-fi tether. I spent quite a few thousand dollars running utility lines to my residence. I did so because my previous professions instilled a need to know what is going on in the wider world even though I can't be arsed to care these days. I don't 'even' have a television in the house.

**Mortality** · August 03, 2011, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by basics

Col. Tartleton,

Aye, and when was the last time you gave thoughts to God?

Uhm..

Not everyone is Christian, Jewish, or Muslim basics.

**hellheaven1987** · July 31, 2011, 04:54 AM

Originally Posted by Col. Tartleton

What about you guys, do you feel your youthful vigor escaping you at an early age? Do you feel a lot older than you are?

There is a difference between getting lazy and getting older.

**The Million Dollar Prons** · July 31, 2011, 12:16 PM

"It is awfully easy to be hard-boiled about everything in the daytime, but at night is another thing." Love you Ernest, you were one of the few authors that really understood the Million Dollar Prons.

Manhood is not a static arbitrary binary definition, there's a lot of facets to it, there's definitely the diving-into-hell-to-punch-the-devil-in-the-face-ghost-rider-is-the-best-comic-book-ever aspect to it, but then there's also the I'm-working-hard-in-my-job-and-am-content-with-myself-and-have-no-regrets-because-I've-taken-every-opportunity-I've-gotten side of manhood.

Look, the way I see it, there is absolutely no reason Tartleton, Eckhart Tolle!, Sqiggule, and I should'nt go down to starbucks and find some scene girls to help validate our manliness. I shall be around shortly to pick you all up in my diamond studded stretch limestone

**Col. Tartleton** · July 31, 2011, 01:30 PM

Thanks for changing the title it was a 5 AM post (couldn't sleep). You know how those go.

Obviously we aren't all "wimps" I'm just reflecting we're losing something as a culture. I'm talking about my generation. Denny you've got 10 years on me which is about the cut off for the previous generation and I'm guessing Ciabhan is even older (more experienced). You guys were around before the "Facebook Generation." Which is my generation which is embarrassing. We're not the "Tech Savvy" generation, we're rightly or wrongly the "Facebook Exhibitionist Generation." I mean look at the other generation names: "The Lost Generation" "The Greatest Generation" "The Silent Generation" "The Baby Boomers" "Generation X (clearly dropped the ball with this name)" At best we're the "Millennial Generation", But I feel the Facebook Generation might be more appropriate. We still do stuff, but we have to tell everyone about it. We're addicted to communication.

Yes there's a spectrum of what it means to be a "Man" be it a tireless provider with a hunger in his heart for conquering the mundane and rising above the infectious miasma of being average (the upwardly mobile type) or the adventurer who wants to pit himself against every challenge, see the world from a high place, and mark the tops of mountains with his piss (that's what you do right?

)

I don't think being satisfied by your job and your family and life is bad. But I wouldn't call that manliness. To quote the Dos Equis commercial "He's a lover not a fighter, but he's also a fighter so don't get any ideas." I think that's what I'm suggesting.

Maybe my impression is wrong, but I'm going to try to do something about it anyway.

**Denny Crane!** · July 31, 2011, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Col. Tartleton

Thanks for changing the title it was a 5 AM post (couldn't sleep). You know how those go.

Obviously we aren't all "wimps" I'm just reflecting we're losing something as a culture. I'm talking about my generation. Denny you've got 10 years on me which is about the cut off for the previous generation and I'm guessing Ciabhan is even older (more experienced). You guys were around before the "Facebook Generation." Which is my generation which is embarrassing. We're not the "Tech Savvy" generation, we're rightly or wrongly the "Facebook Exhibitionist Generation." I mean look at the other generation names: "The Lost Generation" "The Greatest Generation" "The Silent Generation" "The Baby Boomers" "Generation X (clearly dropped the ball with this name)" At best we're the "Millennial Generation", But I feel the Facebook Generation might be more appropriate. We still do stuff, but we have to tell everyone about it. We're addicted to communication.

Yes there's a spectrum of what it means to be a "Man" be it a tireless provider with a hunger in his heart for conquering the mundane and rising above the infectious miasma of being average (the upwardly mobile type) or the adventurer who wants to pit himself against every challenge, see the world from a high place, and mark the tops of mountains with his piss (that's what you do right?

)

I don't think being satisfied by your job and your family and life is bad. But I wouldn't call that manliness. To quote the Dos Equis commercial "He's a lover not a fighter, but he's also a fighter so don't get any ideas." I think that's what I'm suggesting.

Maybe my impression is wrong, but I'm going to try to do something about it anyway.

Read a book called EMERGENCY by Neil Strauss it could be a life changer. He felt much the same at the age of about 40 and his personal journey is hilarious but might be inspirational.

Hell I'll mail you the book if you like.

**Charrua** · July 31, 2011, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Denny Crane!

Read a book called EMERGENCY by Neil Strauss it could be a life changer. He felt much the same at the age of about 40 and his personal journey is hilarious but might be inspirational.

Hell I'll mail you the book if you like.

Freebies? Hey Denny, mail it to me too...

**Justice and Mercy** · July 31, 2011, 08:10 PM

No, but then again I don't measure my "unwimpiness" by how "outdoorsy" I am.

Being a man is much more difficult than hiking in the woods or catching a fish.

**~~AdamWeishaupt~~** · August 01, 2011, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by Justice and Mercy

Being a man is much more difficult than hiking in the woods or catching a fish.

I am surprised. I'ld never have thought, men's emancipation could be a topic for you. Interesting. I guess conservative realists do not need necessarily to be unemancipated.

Originally Posted by Col. Tartleton

I've been reading some Hemingway quotes ...

There are books that should accompany us. They do not need to be the same for all and all time. It's a virtue to find the right texts for yourself for the right times.

I think it is positive when we start to have doubts about ourselves. It's normal and belongs to come to mature.

**SinerAthin** · July 31, 2011, 09:07 PM

I don't know what to say...

Well, aside from that this thread makes me feel awfully young

**SLN445** · July 31, 2011, 09:55 PM

I think ive grown a bit whimpier because i actualy understand the risks now that im older.

Back in the day when we tied wool bags to the back of quad bikes and see how much G force the person who sat on said bag could take before being launched into the hard ground, we didnt give a crap if anyone got hurt but now none of us would dare do that (also the issue of legal issues that are everywere now a days).

**Tyler Durden** · August 01, 2011, 01:38 AM

Personally, I'm fairly certain I'm much more active and violent than would be the norm past generations, but admittedly I'm still young. As a martial artist of sorts, I don't have a problem staying in relatively good shape. I definitely don't find fishing or hiking manly though.

So all in all, I don't think we're all wimps, it's just that convenience leads to complacency.

**~~AdamWeishaupt~~** · August 01, 2011, 01:39 AM

I meant we are not wimps. We should learnt to see ourselves as self-reflective beings.

**Border Patrol** · August 01, 2011, 04:08 AM

I picked up climbing at school last year... other than that I really couldn't give a

. You can still be a man without living off the land.

**Doge Domenico** · August 01, 2011, 04:42 AM

I think I get what he's saying.

1: our generation isn't known for much. The baby boomers have the huge population thing, the lost generation has the greatest writers, the war generation had stories of epic heroism, generation x proved they don't give a

, and here we are. The most we can say is we have survived bird flu SARS swine flu and Y2k. But survival is hardly cool.
2: my generation is street and common sense wise weak. You would think that in a natural disaster the young will take care of the old, but the young have to self preservation skills, it's all electronics now. Why really fish when there is an app for that? In a natural disaste, our generations boned.