A recent tweet reminded me of a conversation from about 30 years ago.
At dinner with some people I’d recently met, a rather large and macho-looking man ordered a drink. As it arrived, complete with fruit and an umbrella, he said, “I realize this isn’t a drink normally ordered by a man. Then again, I never particularly cared what anyone thought anyway.”
THAT was the cool part!
Around that same time there was a satirical book that was very popular (i.e., on the New York Times Best Seller list for 55 weeks) entitled Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche.
I remember thinking that the very title of the book made no sense.
First, what would be “un-manly” about eating quiche? It’s food. If one’s hungry, enjoys quiche, and it’s right in front of them, why wouldn’t they eat it? Or is that too logical?
Second — and more importantly — a “real man*” wouldn’t not eat something that he wanted just because someone wrote a book saying that real men don’t do that.
Now, I realize that sometimes I simply think too much rather than just ignoring what seems to me to be — in my opinion — nonsense. But, are there any sayings like that which make you sort of shake your head and ask if perhaps people don’t think enough?
And, while I’m at it, I’ll take a glass of Ginger Ale. And, could you put some Grenadine and a maraschino cherry in it?
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*If you are offended by the term “real man” and are asking how one would define one anyway, I apologize and I have no idea. 🙂
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Hi Bob,
Fabulous Blog. I guess I’m an over-thinker too! There are many sayings we seem to accept that make no sense to me. My biggest bug-bear is “think outside the box” which always makes me think of the fairy-tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes. It took a child to point out the Emperor was naked – and it feels the same to me “There is no box”. People are too willing to limit their thinking and the possibilities.
And mine’s a Pina Colada with an umbrella please Bob 🙂
Dinah: LOL. It also brought a few more to mind for me that I might feel compelled to share in the comments. Thank you for yours.
Thanks Bob for helping me start my morning off with a laugh! You are definitely not by yourself in wondering why people think some of the things they think! Better yet…. why would they ever pen some of those thoughts!
Funny…I had quiche as our Thanksgiving breakfast with all my kids. My son-in-law thought of the idea, purchased it. He then actually came over early enough to bake it & make coffee! That’s my idea of a real man!! LOL!
Now that you’ve made our day, YOU have an awesome one!
Blessings,
g
Bob,
This has to be one of the most entertaining and funny posts you ever wrote! 😀
It’s a clear sign that one can be funny while sharing wisdom at the same time. A thing only a real man could do!!! ahahaha
Thank you for the happiness injection my friend!
Bruno, thank you. I greatly appreciate that! You ROCK, my friend!
Actually, I think you just defined “real man”: “It’s food. I’m hungry. I’ll eat it.” 🙂
Barbara: LOL. That would be me. Good to know I qualify!
Geneva: Great to hear from you. Seems like it’s been awhile. Have missed you! Thank you for your thoughts. Yep, cool son-in-law. And, he’s got a cool Mommy-in-law. 🙂
Lol….that is so funny…of course I know a number of them but can’t think of one right now :). These comments are going to be so funny to read!
Bob,
I love to hear a thinking man think about things. Here is one for you.
What do you think about when you hear the phrase:
I think, therefore I am.
You can take it literally:
I have thoughts so I know I must exist.
You can take it as manifest destiny:
What I think is who I am or who I become.
What you think about you become. (I know you know who I got that from.)
Leadership:
I am responsible for my thoughts and actions.
Purpose:
A thinking person has purpose because a thinking person cannot justify a purposeless life.
Spiritual:
“I am, who am.” God
Is it really an accident that a prominent philosopher would be using the phase “I am” for a deep intellectual question?
Is this a foreshadowing of our divine nature and who we were made in the image of?
Here is something I pondered a while back relating to this:
http://www.demolishun.com/whoami
So even phrases we find value in already may have hidden gems if we take time to ponder them.
Christie: Thank you. I know; sort of like jokes; know a thousand of em’ but difficult to recall when asked. LOL
Demolishun: Thank you, and thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
Whenever someone says “real men” or any other expression that implies you should go with the crowd I think it is a good idea to ask “really? Why?”. For almost every rule around custom you can someone doing the opposite and succeeding.
As I heard Randy Gage remind us last week, zag whenever everyone else is zigging.
My favourite drink back in University days was a cherry hooker (no umbrella). I didn’t name it.
Thinking is good.
Great post, Bob! It’s light and deep at the same time.
I had to smile a few minutes ago when I saw a male visitor taking a tour of the Lot, wearing “man-capris” (is there a real fashion term for them?) I smiled in light of your post this morning and had the thought, “he must a really secure guy to wear a style of pants usually only seen on women.” I respected him for having made the choice to go against convention & wear something that was practical & appropriate for the weather here today in southern CA. And, he looked comfortable in them and they looked good on him. He must be comfortable in his i own skin, to the extent one can deduce such things, at least in this area of his life.
Thanks for shedding light on a topic which, when plumbed & acted upon with congruence, can lead to personal freedom.
Heather: Thank you. Light and deep…hey, just like a good quiche! LOL. Seriously, thanks for the kind feedback and sharing that example, my friend!
Bob, I love your story of the guy who just didn’t care what others thought. It’s a tough line to walk.
Joseph: Indeed, it is and can be. He set an excellent example!
Great conversation going on over here! Wonderful post BOB! You have me thinking again.
Doug: I agree with the questions. It always (in my opinion) goes back to “checking one’s premises.” And, the questions, “really?” and “why” both do that very effectively. I also like, “who says that?”, “and, how did *they* come to that conclusion?” and other clarifying questions. Of course, when question others, we do that most effectively by being kind and tactful in our questioning. However, we can ruthlessly ask those questions of ourselves. 🙂 Meanwhile, I will not touch the “cherry hooker” (wait, that didn’t sound right). 🙂
Dondi: Thank you. You are *always* thinking, my friend. Just one of the many things we all love about you. 🙂
LOL! I wouldn’t even know where to BEGIN, Bob! 😀
Samantha: LOL!
GREAT article Bob! Still laughing – Mindviruses are thousands or millions – Because this is what this is! You bought into something someone you like, look up to, see as winning, and so forth, and you start using it. First it’s conscious – but then you put it in as an unobserved thought, a cirquit, and right here you have the mindvirus in action. IT controlls you now, not the other way around. These are actually quite funny. Did some personal coaching finding these fixated thoughts – and I tell you, that is the most hillarious hours for both my clients and me. We were laughing our heads off together, because they make absolutely NO SENCE, and yet so difficult to let go. Those are anyway scerious stops for changing and accepting new ideas and getting new ideas. Hugs from Denmark.
Lene: Thank you for your always kind and insightful feedback. Great points, indeed, my friend!
“Real Men know how to use an iron”
“Real Men wear pink? NO. Real men treat girls right”
“A Real woman can do it all by herself. But a Real Man won’t let her”
“Swimming. What Real Men do while boys play football”
Its late at night and I felt the urge to throw my hat into this ring. Courtesy of my trusty pal Google.
Esther: Thank you. I appreciate you throwing your proverbial hat into the even more proverbial ring. Didn’t understand the Google part that you mentioned, though. Is the above original or did you find those quotes on Google? Either way is fine; no need to reinvent the wheel. LOL
: ) I went to Google to find out what a “real man” is…
LOL. Got it!
Great post, Bob!
One of the things people say that I never understand is “Can I be honest with you?” Yes. Please! Variations include “I’m not gonna lie….” Good to know! or “I’m gonna be totally honest with you…” Yay, because there’s really no such thing as partially honest! It makes me wonder if, when they don’t say it, I should assume they are lying??? Can I be honest with you? No, I much prefer it if you lie to me. Sheeeeesh!
Google
Teaching what a “real man” is since 1998.
This could make a great ad! 🙂
LOL!!
Linda: An all-time favorite, for sure! 🙂