Occasionally, I find myself aghast at what has become of manhood-laugh if you must-or perhaps the better phrase is: being a man. But I still cling to the notion. I was reminded of this when reading of a woman’s efforts to build a digital filter in order that she not be bombarded in her social media by “dick-pics”.
And apparently, this is not a fringe problem: many women, and men, are subjected to it.
As a way to explain my aghastness, let me tangentially note what being a man once meant, and yes, I realize this will not be historically accurate for all men through time.
It meant being a grown-up, an adult.
Grown adult men do not surreptitiously, or otherwise, send picture of their “junk” to women or men they don’t know, thinking they’re being clever or cute or- I’m amazed they might even think this- it might turn the recipient on. That’s the kind of thinking 13 year-olds engage in.
Yeesh.
Evidently, we have so eroded the idea of responsibility, of personal respect and respect for others, that this is so commonplace in social media, that in exasperation it has to be filtered out, that you have to add an app for that, simply to not be offended, aggrieved in the true legitimate sense, or exhausted by perile immaturity on a day to day basis.
You wonder if any of the billionaire boys who gave us the internet as it is today gave any of this any thought? I’m thinking no, but hey, as they like to say in order to evade any responsibility: we’re only the platform and it’s free speech, right?
Again: yeesh.
Now you may say that I’m being cantankerous or old-fashioned and I’ll cop to that. You may even chide that I’m out-of-touch or have an idealized notion of manhood, adulthood, whatever. Perhaps, but there are worse things and as the current occupant of the White House displays nothing that was once associated with presidential decorum and respect for the office and institution, I remain a staunch advocate for growing up, being responsible- note I didn’t use the word “act”- and recognizing that rather than a burden, it is something to be proud of and nurture in your own kids.
Lastly, using the term “junk” to describe your genitalia is neither endearing or enticing. It’s equating it with something of little value or worth. It’s like sending a pic of a rusted out wreck and going, “Huh, huh, huh?” Quite the turn-on.
Well, to a 13 year-old.
©2019 David William Pearce
David William Pearce, Writer 