I define a man as one who has the typical and expected male genitalia.
this topic is like religion, There's too many ways.
Culture does, though. Also, I've always wondered this. What if you find out that your beliefs are wrong? Is somebody strong for not only believing that we should be pulling people over because they look Hispanic, but for refusing to back down despite strong opposition to the contrary? I agree that constantly shifting your opinion is something that you shouldn't desire, but being firm in your beliefs isn't always a good thing.
The definition will vary wildly by culture, and it's changed over time as well. In North America it tends to be tied into capitalism. You become a man when you reach a certain age, get a job, become "independent", etc.
If you have a job, have a vehicle, own your own house, and realize things like premarital sex and partying don't mean shit, therefore you don't do it. You stand up for what is right, and you stand your ground when threatened, you do what you have to do, whether you like it or not, and don't bitch about it. You don't let people walk all over you and at the same time you don't walk all over anyone else, because you are above that, you show some fucking respect.
If the description above describes you, congratulations. You are a man. If you don't follow any single of the values said above, sorry to say, you probably have a little bit of growing up to do.
The difference for myself between a boy and a man is a Man will stand up for his beliefs, stand by his significant other, and rely on his own judgement, while a boy may sway his beliefs depending on peer pressure or "whats cool, they may not stand by there significant other if mom or dad don't approve, and they will turn to friends, family etc for guidance as they lack experience to make a solid judgement call.
OT: Yes this can be true for both sexes but the thread was a question as to what a man is vs a boy...don't get why some people must point out that it could be the same for both sexes when the topic is not about both. Describing characteristics you believe make a boy a man do not exclude said characteristics from what make a girl become a woman!
Last edited by Odina; 2012-04-30 at 03:09 PM.
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the opposite to a Woman
I thought I did, but apparently I don't
_¨
If you die you die but if you don't die you still die.
What a piece of work is a man?
Consulting with others--especially those with more experience--is not necessarily a sign of immaturity. In fact it could very well be a sign of maturity. Acknowledging when you don't have enough experience to tackle an issue doesn't make you less of an adult. I would say it only becomes a concern when you 1) never learn and 2) always go to others in order to make decisions.
I pointed it out because I think the definition that would mentioned a few times in this thread, that becoming a man involves standing up for your beliefs, etc, tends to be mentioned mostly in terms of men. I'd be willing to be $ that if this thread were "What makes a girl into a woman?" that you wouldn't have seen this definition put on the table at all. I think guys in particular like to see themselves as stalwart warriors on the battlefield, a la Mel Gibson in Braveheart, standing up for what is right. It's just a bias that sneaks in when topics like this arise.OT: Yes this can be true for both sexes but the thread was a question as to what a man is vs a boy...don't get why some people must point out that it could be the same for both sexes when the topic is not about both. Describing characteristics you believe make a boy a man do not exclude said characteristics from what make a girl become a woman!
This is what it is to be a man, obviously. (skip to 0:29)
In all seriousness. The definition of "being a man" varies by person, just as much as what someone's idea of beauty means. It all comes down to one's own beliefs.
In other words you were trying to point out a socially constructed chauvinistic ideology that only men can stand by there beliefs in a thread that was asking about personal opinions on what people beleived were defining characteristics of what makes a man a man vs a boy? Tossing out a random gender inequality comments about how men never seem to define women the same way and leave out "standing up for ones beliefs" in what makes a woman different from a girl seem to always sneak into topics like this as well!
odd how that happens!
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Why are you seeing such comments as "random" if you're also agreeing that they have context?
Really, when it comes to any topic--sex, gender, politics, etc--the trends and style of responses can often be just as interesting as the responses themselves. Comments that make people think about their assumptions and potential biases aren't random or useless. They can and do often lead to side conversations which are meaningful.
I'd say a boy becomes a man when he has finished going through puberty. So, the age varies from person to person.