ROdown Blog

Hey Mark,

Awesome to see you blogging away on Man Week, despite the early morning start.

I think the Hack program tonight will be really interesting. Having been raised in a small town a million miles from nowhere I'll be interested to hear what other guys have to say about that experience.

Keep up the good work!

Did anyone hear Jono this morning?

Mathew, I'm interested to hear what your experience(s) are living miles from no where! :-)

Alistair, I think you're right - we have definitely slowly move away from the alpha-male term, although I believe its still evident in our society considering the statistics of men struggling with psychological distress, deliberate self-harm and suicide. That is assuming that there is a correlation of those figures and an alpha-male, "tough men" mentality.

But I do agree with Alistair that most men whose able to see past the expectations others have on them, and able to connect who they are, what they do and who they'd like to be and their own real identity - that's what matters more these days.

Right, so my comment just got wiped! I'll try again :)

I guess I'd have to agree with the Alpha Male as a fading breed. But maybe its just changing face? I mean, we never used to talk about metrosexuality as being anywhere near the rule book, and now it's definitely up there on guys lists. Maybe the locus of what it means to be the role model has changed? I do think it still lingers though. I'd expect there to be some kind of Alpha Male complex in say a footy team over maybe a bunch of guys in a band. (okay, now i'm definitely using stereotypes!).

As for the being yourself philosophy, I'd have to agree that's also in my rule book. Although a lot of guys who I talk to, talk about picking a choosing the qualities they want to see in themselevs from other people. I guess that's just part of self development right...our identiy has to be socialised in some way? (...unless it's purely superficial?!). Maybe I'm hanging out with the eccentrics?

hey guys - some really interesting ideas up here already... looking forward to chatting on the forum tonight! see you then :)

Hey Mark,

I like the ideas bouncing around this forum!

I too am not to fond of the concept of an "alpha male"; we should be proud our unique renditions of masculinity rather than aspire to be at the apex of some hierarchy of masculinity. Sadly, Australian culture seems to applaud its sacred notion of the womanising, beer-guzzling, foul-mouthed "bloke" but that being said, the culture is shifting to allow for other forms of masculine expression to enjoy praise.

My hope is that we see a return of "the gentleman"; genuine guys who treat women with respect and not just to get into their pants. Because true charm and chivalry is fast becoming a lost art.

Thoughts?

Hey everyone - tripleJ producer James is waiting on the forums right now to have a chat about the show and about your views about what it means to be a man.

So - come through to the ROtreat forums and have your say!

C'mon!

Llyetton Hewitt style Char (C'MON)

:)

Yeah peeps -- my laptop crashed almost a bajillion time and was only able to hear bits and pieces....I really want to know the populations view of men :)

It sounds really interesting

★☆

Possibly as men our downfall could be that we are trying to be, at the same time as being confused about, what we think women want us to be.

Hey Glenn - great point :)

Join the dicussion on the forum :)

http://au.reachout.com/connect/forums

And look out for the tripleJ Hack signage.

Hope to see you there!

My wife passed away recently, but she used to say it depended upon her mood at the time as to what type of man she wanted me to be.( makes it a little hard )

Hey glenn,

I can imagine it must be really tough having had you wife pass away! Hope you are ok! It also sounds like at times it might have been tough to know who she wanted you to be. I have to admit at times with my partner I am a bit like this! If I am feeling really together, confident and independent I don't want him making decisions for me or trying to be the strong leader...at other times though, like when I am really tired, my resilience is down or if I have been facing tough times, sometimes I appreciate having someone there to look after me and be strong for a little while so I can safely fall apart. I think it is sometimes hard for him to know what I am hoping he will be, but I face the same thing sometimes knowing how to respond to him when he is going great vs. having some tougher times. Usually we can work it out by being honest with each other but sometimes it can be really hard to do!

honnor, valor, life, meaning, purpose, oaths, past present and future, value, respect. thats i belive in. wounder if that makes any sence to anyone 

To continue this discussion, I also believe that the definition of the "alpha male" differs from person to person. Just because someone works out and is a leader doesn't necessarily mean he is a bossy, aggressive male that is full of himself. Also, do all so-called alpha males act the way they do to fit it or because that is who they truly are? Is being an alpha male always a bad thing? Even though the alpha male breed is said to be fading, maybe society is just becoming more accepting of the fact that everybody is their own person. Not everyone can fit into a strict stereotype definition. I also believe that some guys are under more pressure to act masculine. As most other character traits, the alpha male is both a product of the environment and genes.