In Reply

Dearest Chavette,

While it is true that we have ascended (note we have ascended and not descended, or simply come into) to an era of ever increasing equality, but to compare men to High Fidelity’s Rob is a slap in the face to any self-respecting male. It is true that the new rite of passage for males is based largely on female approval but Rob is a failure as a masculine man. He is pathetic, and the only way he can salvage his life is to completely submit to Laura. This is not a success as you claim, it is simply an admission of his failure. I agree that the model of masculinity has changed drastically over the centuries and I would by no means endorse or glorify thuggism in any terms other than masculinity. My purpose was to highlight the traits that remained from the glory of Stalky. Our co-blogger Eaglet agrees, having said: “I do think that modern gangs have become the latest menifestation of the Stalky model, albeit a very violent and negative one.” Yes they are violent and criminal but they come as close to Stalky-esque masculinity as you can find in today’s society. Many people go about their daily lives in a manner similar to Rob, eking out a sub-par existence, slaves to the fairer sex. But the poindexters and creampuffs that live in a world where their only validation comes from females, who they fear and don’t understand, are only males in the sense that they have the correct chromosomes.

The times they have changed, and the definition or model of true masculinity has become muddied; and to insult males by implying that Rob is the new model is wrong. Thugs and gangsters are by no means the ideal, but in their rebellious, tightly-knit groups they are as close as any modern males come to the glory days.

So while I agree that the female has a new heightened role in masculinity, I do not agree that “women are the only ones capable of creating good males.” Because accepting defeat and bowing completely to female control like Rob is shameful. The lives of adolescent males do tend to revolve around females but males today compete by being appealing, in order to ‘get’ or ‘get-with’ females. And in many cases males don’t get females by surrendering their testicles (if they do then they fail as males). Females want masculine men which is probably why thugs and gangsters never have a shortage of attractive women to ‘get with.’

Sincerely,

--SS