The true measure of a man. (1389 hits)
Category: RomanceRating: -1 on 23 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Fat Tony (View user info) at 2007-07-25 12:45:47 EDT
What is the true measure of a man?
I used to think it was money, because growing up we didn't have any and it sure seemed like it would help. For the most part, I was right. Money can get you just about everything you could ever need. But does it make you a man? Does it make you a better person? No.
For the longest time I thought women could make me a man. It doesn't prove anything. Money and/or bullshit is all that's needed to get women.
I thought about it for a long time, and I searched ever since I was a kid. I always wanted to be a great man, a remembered man, a man worthy of being called A MAN. Only took me about 40 years to figure it out.
It's love.
Not the English use of the word. I love the color pink! I love pancakes! I love that puppy! I love you! In the English language we've pissed on and perverted the meaning into every day conversation. 'I love you' is tossed around during sex or a massage and two people exchange that word who don't really mean it because it seems like the right word to say.
I'm talking about the Greek meaning of the word love, mainly Agape.
Eros: Erotic, lust, fornicating, hot in the pants, etc.
Philia: Buddy, piazan, my friend, bro, ma nigga, etc.
Thelema: Desire, want, non sexual, like I thelema a great job with full dental benefits.
Agape: Love with affection, regardless of attraction. A love where you'd die for that person if you had to. A love that can't be purchased or rented, a love that ..... This is corny but ... Conquers and ends all.
One friend who grew up in Marshmallow land where the streets are made of candy and life is perfect said, "Your parents love you like that." I grew up in Shitsville where regardless what things looked like, they were made of shit. In my world, the real world, parents can easily abandon a child and not have any feelings for it at all. A child can be called no shit (This is your son, "no shit!") Or ooops.
You don't have agape love in your life, you have to earn it. I have that kind of love for my children and a few close friends. I just now figured out I have that kind of love for my wife. I realized life isn't about me, it's about the people I love. My wife, my kids, a select few people. Then I realized that I can't just shut out people just because I don't feel for them. What if I shut out my wife, or the few friends that I actually care about? Who would I have then?
I need to stop being such an asshole to everybody.
I need to learn to stop judging people by the color of their skin, their accent, the clothes they wear, the amount of money they make, their belief, their sexual preferences, their looks or anything else. I need to learn that I can't pass judgment PERIOD
It's time to put away my armor and shield and just try like hell to be a half way decent person. Can't please everybody, don't even try and don't even give a hardy 'fuck you' to people that piss you off.
Money can be lost in a day. Life can be ended instantly. Drugs & alcohol wear off quickly. Once you have real love, it's not that easy to get rid of. If you can dump a person in a day and move on, it's not love. If you can forget or get over a person in a week, that's not love. If you really love a person, I mean REALLY LOVE a person then you have to work hard to get rid of it. Some might say if the love is really true then it's impossible to end.+
I've read the book of Ecclesiastes about a dozen times because I really enjoy it. I just now understood it for the first time and I wasn't even reading it.
The true measure of a person? Just like the height, depth and width:
How much love you've given.
How much love you're received.
How much love you're earned.
I am loved (agape) by more then a few (yes, including Jesus Christ). Do I really need anything else?
Besides ice cream and diet Coke?
Oh and cable, GPS, slingbox, my computer and my dog.
My Mercedes, this ping pong paddle, a thermos, a remote control, this chair, the googly eyed pencil (Go rent The Jerk with Steve Martin to understand the last few items).
User Reviews
Submitted by FannyGrady (user info) at 2007-08-10 01:26:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good read Tony!
Submitted by UnderDog (user info) at 2007-07-25 22:01:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No comment
Submitted by UnderDog (user info) at 2007-07-25 22:00:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by UnderDog (user info) at 2007-07-25 20:41:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This isn't really that bad.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2007-07-25 14:02:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:49:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
the scale says ur 500 pounds. you've been measured and deemed unfit for humanity, please proceed to the euthanasia department.
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This is dangerously close to a comment I once made about Heinrich showing you to your shower for using too much oxygen. I want royalties, Canuck.
Submitted by Dervish (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:43:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by FatTony (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:18:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Women are hard to get? You have your head up your ass.
To get a woman in bed, you only money and/or bullshit. Nothing else is required for the temporary (eros) love of a woman. Did I say all women? No, not all women are attracted to a rich smooth talking man but it is safe to say that the majority are. A man can look like me and still get sex, it's a sad truth.
When you go to a club, restaurant, bar, what are the women asking the men? What are your opinions on the the war in Iraq? What do you think about the long term relationship with a woman who has children from other men? No, they are interested in a hot sexy man. When the hot sexy man they wanted doesn't pay them attention, the next best thing will do. A man with money and a silver tongue. If you don't think this is true, then you live in a fantasy land where women don't put out on the first date.
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You have a very low view of humanity. I feel bad for you. I'm sure you're quite happy, though, so I suppose it all balances out.
I hope you stay that way. Happy, not low.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:36:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I don't trust the sincerity here. I'm not feeling it.
On the other hand, money and bullshit is EXACTLY all that's needed to get women and that includes extremely hot women. I concur.
Submitted by FatTony (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:18:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Women are hard to get? You have your head up your ass.
To get a woman in bed, you only money and/or bullshit. Nothing else is required for the temporary (eros) love of a woman. Did I say all women? No, not all women are attracted to a rich smooth talking man but it is safe to say that the majority are. A man can look like me and still get sex, it's a sad truth.
When you go to a club, restaurant, bar, what are the women asking the men? What are your opinions on the the war in Iraq? What do you think about the long term relationship with a woman who has children from other men? No, they are interested in a hot sexy man. When the hot sexy man they wanted doesn't pay them attention, the next best thing will do. A man with money and a silver tongue. If you don't think this is true, then you live in a fantasy land where women don't put out on the first date.
Submitted by Dervish (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:05:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:02:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
If this were writtne by someone else and edited a bit I'd be willing the reception to it would be vastly different. There is a touch of eloquence here and there throughout the whole of the piece and there's some truth to what's being said. as far as the whole getting women just requires money thing is concerned I don't really see that as being out of place in this argument. It doesn't take much to get a woman for temporary entertainment whereas true love has to be earned and gained. it's not about the money, or power, or physical element, it's about the person as a whole, thier spirit, thier hdemeanor, thier ability to reciprocate with love to create a lasting relationship.
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Not a chance. His attitude never would've flown with the people I know, including my wife. Money and bullshit mean nothing to more people than he knows, and to spout off things like this reveals his attitudes more than I think he wishes to.
Hence, the -2.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:02:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
If this were writtne by someone else and edited a bit I'd be willing the reception to it would be vastly different. There is a touch of eloquence here and there throughout the whole of the piece and there's some truth to what's being said. as far as the whole getting women just requires money thing is concerned I don't really see that as being out of place in this argument. It doesn't take much to get a woman for temporary entertainment whereas true love has to be earned and gained. it's not about the money, or power, or physical element, it's about the person as a whole, thier spirit, thier hdemeanor, thier ability to reciprocate with love to create a lasting relationship.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2007-07-25 13:00:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Ugh.
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:57:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by FatTony (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:53:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:49:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
What about the hate you spread through your bigotry, shit for brains?
________________________
People can't change? There is no such thing as a change of heart?
________________________
It's called a change in intelligence and you, Lunchbox, are incapable of making it.
Submitted by Dervish (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:55:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by FatTony (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:52:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Is it a lie? What's needed to get women? Money or a few good lines of bullshit. What's needed to get a temporary relationship? No bullshit? Money will work, it will get you all the temporary action you can handle.
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If that is your attitude toward women, how can you possibly claim you respect them?
And if you don't respect them, it is impossible that you can experience the love you have written about.
You made me throw up a little with this post.
Submitted by FatTony (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:53:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:49:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
What about the hate you spread through your bigotry, shit for brains?
________________________
People can't change? There is no such thing as a change of heart?
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:52:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:46:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Money and/or bullshit is all that's needed to get women.
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Oh, fuck off.
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I also suppose that's why you think it's acceptable to beat the shit out of them.
Drop dead
Now
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:52:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I would LOVE for you to die
Submitted by FatTony (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:52:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Is it a lie? What's needed to get women? Money or a few good lines of bullshit. What's needed to get a temporary relationship? No bullshit? Money will work, it will get you all the temporary action you can handle.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:49:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
the scale says ur 500 pounds. you've been measured and deemed unfit for humanity, please proceed to the euthanasia department.
Submitted by Unabonger (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:49:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
What about the hate you spread through your bigotry, shit for brains?
You're not a great man. You're pathetic.
Submitted by Dervish (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:48:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:46:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Money and/or bullshit is all that's needed to get women.
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Oh, fuck off.
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Seconded. You write about the importance of love and preface it with this?
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:48:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I do all my measuring with a ruler
Submitted by polyamorousaj (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:48:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
The true measure of a man is inseam, not waistline.
Didn't read it.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2007-07-25 12:46:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Money and/or bullshit is all that's needed to get women.
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Oh, fuck off.