Comments on: The Measure of a Man http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/ To be equivocal is to truly live. Wed, 23 May 2012 19:18:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: joe http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/#comment-29346 joe Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:19:19 +0000 http://equivocality.com/?p=2716#comment-29346 Every now and then people would come up with conclusions on whether man is born good or evil, or empathetic or otherwise. Confuscianism believes man is born good. So far methinks man is born either evil or neutral. If a child is found empathetic, then it may be said that the child is mentally mature, it doesn't make the child an adult though. That's my 2 cents :) Every now and then people would come up with conclusions on whether man is born good or evil, or empathetic or otherwise. Confuscianism believes man is born good. So far methinks man is born either evil or neutral.
If a child is found empathetic, then it may be said that the child is mentally mature, it doesn’t make the child an adult though. That’s my 2 cents :)

]]> By: Jeff http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/#comment-29336 Jeff Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:13:50 +0000 http://equivocality.com/?p=2716#comment-29336 That's interesting...I would have imagined that girl was more of a compliment to one's youth. Although lady does bring a certain amount of sophistication to it. That’s interesting…I would have imagined that girl was more of a compliment to one’s youth. Although lady does bring a certain amount of sophistication to it.

]]> By: Pearl http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/#comment-29328 Pearl Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:17:41 +0000 http://equivocality.com/?p=2716#comment-29328 Can't speak to the man aspect but s'pose sooner or later one would get smacked often enough to unlearn "girl" and say lady. ;) Can’t speak to the man aspect but s’pose sooner or later one would get smacked often enough to unlearn “girl” and say lady. ;)

]]> By: Jeff http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/#comment-29324 Jeff Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:10:47 +0000 http://equivocality.com/?p=2716#comment-29324 I'm sure that experience in martial arts (MMA especially, nowadays) gives one much more exposure to that machismo. I've always laughed at that kind of attitude, like someone thinking he's more manly and superior because he has a big penis, or trying to compensate for lack of one. A "complex" issue indeed (pardon the pun). I’m sure that experience in martial arts (MMA especially, nowadays) gives one much more exposure to that machismo. I’ve always laughed at that kind of attitude, like someone thinking he’s more manly and superior because he has a big penis, or trying to compensate for lack of one. A “complex” issue indeed (pardon the pun).

]]> By: Jeff http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/#comment-29323 Jeff Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:01:48 +0000 http://equivocality.com/?p=2716#comment-29323 I think the marriage was long dead even before the time I was old enough to realize it. The only time they would talk to each other was during dinner. And it was only petty work gossip. Empathy is a good one. I never thought about that. Whereas other traits (like being emotionally stable) are more subject to debate, I think empathy is more universally accepted as a sign of maturity. The interesting thing is that a child who is empathetic (which is a trait they've recently confirmed that we're born with) doesn't make them an adult. I think the marriage was long dead even before the time I was old enough to realize it. The only time they would talk to each other was during dinner. And it was only petty work gossip.

Empathy is a good one. I never thought about that. Whereas other traits (like being emotionally stable) are more subject to debate, I think empathy is more universally accepted as a sign of maturity. The interesting thing is that a child who is empathetic (which is a trait they’ve recently confirmed that we’re born with) doesn’t make them an adult.

]]> By: Michael http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/#comment-29310 Michael Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:41:44 +0000 http://equivocality.com/?p=2716#comment-29310 "Being a man" often still seems to be in the vein of Conan the Cimmerians suggestion that you "crush your enemies, take their treasure. Enjoy the lamentation of their women." On the other hand, the author of those fantasy books, Robert E. Howard, ended up shooting himself fatally in a hospital parking lot when he found out his elderly mother [with whom he still lived] was not going to leave the facility alive. So maybe being manly remains a complex issue, especially for men who buy either into the macho nonsense or instead try to hard to be metrosexual. Perhaps we would be better to heed the words of a dead Roman Stoic philosopher and emperor from almost 2000 years ago rather than a fictional Cimmerian from our own era. Marcus Aurelius wrote: "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” Seems like good advice to me. “Being a man” often still seems to be in the vein of Conan the Cimmerians suggestion that you “crush your enemies, take their treasure. Enjoy the lamentation of their women.” On the other hand, the author of those fantasy books, Robert E. Howard, ended up shooting himself fatally in a hospital parking lot when he found out his elderly mother [with whom he still lived] was not going to leave the facility alive. So maybe being manly remains a complex issue, especially for men who buy either into the macho nonsense or instead try to hard to be metrosexual.

Perhaps we would be better to heed the words of a dead Roman Stoic philosopher and emperor from almost 2000 years ago rather than a fictional Cimmerian from our own era. Marcus Aurelius wrote: “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” Seems like good advice to me.

]]> By: joe http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/#comment-29307 joe Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:07:15 +0000 http://equivocality.com/?p=2716#comment-29307 Strange, as I remember your parents always cracked jokes before they got married. Well, I think maturity is not something technical like paying bills, not enjoying stupid movies, or having children. I think maturity is an attitude---being emotional stable, empathetic, forgiving. These may be traits acquired as we grow. Strange, as I remember your parents always cracked jokes before they got married.

Well, I think maturity is not something technical like paying bills, not enjoying stupid movies, or having children. I think maturity is an attitude—being emotional stable, empathetic, forgiving. These may be traits acquired as we grow.

]]> By: Jeff http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/#comment-29299 Jeff Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:05:36 +0000 http://equivocality.com/?p=2716#comment-29299 I imagine that many people wish they could feel the same way at your age, and have three kids at the same time. I don't know how you find time to be a father and still play WoW though! I imagine that many people wish they could feel the same way at your age, and have three kids at the same time.

I don’t know how you find time to be a father and still play WoW though!

]]> By: Jeff http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/#comment-29298 Jeff Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:04:34 +0000 http://equivocality.com/?p=2716#comment-29298 I suspect this is true. Even "kids" nowadays who have babies turn into adults. It's like they rise to the age of their responsibilities. I suspect this is true. Even “kids” nowadays who have babies turn into adults. It’s like they rise to the age of their responsibilities.

]]> By: Jeff http://equivocality.com/2008/12/15/the-measure-of-a-man/#comment-29297 Jeff Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:03:04 +0000 http://equivocality.com/?p=2716#comment-29297 That sounds scary and exciting at the same time. Never been hunting before, but I'd love to. I probably won't enjoy field dressing myself, but I really want to observe and film it. That sounds scary and exciting at the same time. Never been hunting before, but I’d love to. I probably won’t enjoy field dressing myself, but I really want to observe and film it.

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