[Chainmail]

Completely ignoring the problems associated with one group of men/boys in our country who never had a dad around to show them the ropes - so enter violent crime and the prison pipeline as almost a birthright - the rest of the men in this country have a newer, different problem now.

In the earlier centuries of our country, young men had a path to "prove themselves", the step guys took to verify to themselves and those around him that they had made the jump from mama to the hard realities of manhood.

For some, it was leaving home for finding their fortunes west. For others, it was joining military service and serving during wartime (we had enough wars back then, that most every guy had that chance). Or they went directly to a hard-guy job and proved themselves by working in mining or working in a steel mill and making it.

Since about 60-70 years ago, most young men avoided military service and the west was long won and the tough guy jobs became much scarcer.

Today's men are growing up in an environment of softness, safety, and inescapable "equality" where almost nothing exists that some young lady isn't also qualified to do and he never gets to "prove" himself.

That's where all these guys, whiling away their lives in mama's basement, playing video games and watching porn came from.

[ExTxMarine]

Today's men are growing up in an environment of softness, safety, and inescapable "equality" where almost nothing exists that some young lady isn't also qualified to do and he never gets to "prove" himself.

Even mentorship and apprentice schools have moved to the "equality" mode, and men are not allowed to be men anymore.

It is funny, my daughter complains that her husband acts "different" around his ex-Army buddies. My son-in-law was an Army Reservist in Afghanistan, so when around his wartime buddies, he acts like we ex-military do...manly, childish, playful, hard-nosed, tough, and odd - ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

Having been in the Marine Corps, in combat, I tried to explain to her that men in those circumstances create a bond that very few people will ever understand...even those men. Let him enjoy this unique friendship; it's one of the few things we get to have for ourselves.