The Irish Times' bizarre "How To Be a Man" section

Richard Hillman · 26-09-2016 11:54AM #1

I have been flicking through it this morning with my eyes permanently lodged to the heavens

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/how-to-be-a-man

As if calling it "How to be a man" is bad enough, the headings include

How much should you work out? is it worth looking at the Squat?
Seven of the most popular beauty products for men
Bressie: Crying uncontrollably is liberating...and admitting you are vulnerable
Irish men on Masculinity, feminism and violence

It seems like a section for Men made by women. Or it confirms that the bitchification of males has been complete.

This newsreader says, yes to both.

BattleCorp · 26-09-2016 11:56AM

I get a pejazzle. That makes me feel really manly*

* Only messing. I bate the head off the wife when I want to feel manly.

Clarebelly · 26-09-2016 12:00PM

"is it worth looking at the Squat?"

When it comes to the Irish Times, my female puppy says yes.

SEPT 23 1989 · 26-09-2016 12:01PM

I feel sorry for young men today

26-09-2016 12:01PM

That's some dirge alright.

Bressie alone would make me grit my teeth. Some day someone will ask him the hard question, why did he clearly state he didn't have depression before he went on to make a career out of it?

http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/the-fear-factor-228486.html

pumpkin4life · 26-09-2016 12:02PM

Turning men into fùcking eunuchs.

Yeah, that will work.

hmmm · 26-09-2016 12:05PM

I glimpsed a headline which mentioned Fintan O'Toole and "How to be a Man" and I thought we had reached peak Irish Timeyness. I had to close the app it made me so queasy.

The Backwards Man · 26-09-2016 12:06PM

I didn't realise it was compulsory to read the garbage printed in newspaper supplements these days.

Cuff me and take me away Officer, but go easy on the manicure.

CdeC · 26-09-2016 12:08PM

Ah sure don't read them if you don't want to.

But it's better than a "man the f**k up" campaign which older generations had and not much else.

I think there's not really a right way to be a man. It's about confidence and self assuredness and to be able to make decisions.
Whether it's what drill bit is the best to use to put up shelves in your shed or what flowers are appropriate for your Aunts birthday then so what.

pumpkin4life · 26-09-2016 12:09PM

I'm reading the contributers here. A trans man. A gay man. That fùcking benny Fintan o Toole. A councellor.

I'm trying to figure out how these people are even remotely representative of white, hetrosexual, working to middle class Irish men?

dav3 · 26-09-2016 12:14PM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

I have been flicking through it this morning with my eyes permanently lodged to the heavens

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/how-to-be-a-man

As if calling it "How to be a man" is bad enough, the headings include
How much should you work out? is it worth looking at the Squat?

Seven of the most popular beauty products for men

Bressie: Crying uncontrollably is liberating...and admitting you are vulnerable

Irish men on Masculinity, feminism and violence

It seems like a section for Men made by women. Or it confirms that the bitchification of males has been complete.

This newsreader says, yes to both.

Perhaps you should pen a strongly worded letter and send it into the Times telling them how outraged you are, instead of crying about it on an internet forum. What kind of man does that?...

Richard Hillman · 26-09-2016 12:20PM

dav3 wrote: »

Perhaps you should pen a strongly worded letter and send it into the Times telling them how outraged you are, instead of crying about it on an internet forum. What kind of man does that?...

It wont be a few days until I get a reply on it if I wrote a letter. As a man I am naturally impatient, so have turned to the internet for instant debate, like a real man.

SemenInMyEyes · 26-09-2016 12:22PM

Women be like: Where have all the good men gone?

I be like: They are all gay, transexual or feminised by 21st century society.

CdeC · 26-09-2016 12:26PM

I think it is time that we move away from the "One size fits all.....tits & soccer for the lads" and actually acknowledge diversity among men.

If these type of articles make you feel uncomfortable or anything like that then maybe you should be reading them.
I understand if lads aren't into them that's cool too.

Talking about these things is good for men. The feminization of men is not a bad thing. Being more in control of your emotions and not using violence/aggression to solve problems is a good thing.

Does not make men girly just more well rounded.

Harvey Normal · 26-09-2016 12:32PM

pumpkin4life wrote: »

I'm reading the contributers here. A trans man. A gay man. That fùcking benny Fintan o Toole. A councellor.

I'm trying to figure out how these people are even remotely representative of white, hetrosexual, working to middle class Irish men?

Heteronormative white maleness? Can't have that.

kunst nugget · 26-09-2016 12:35PM

CdeC wrote: »

I think it is time that we move away from the "One size fits all.....tits & soccer for the lads" and actually acknowledge diversity among men.

If these type of articles make you feel uncomfortable or anything like that then maybe you should be reading them.
I understand if lads aren't into them that's cool too.

Talking about these things is good for men. The feminization of men is not a bad thing. Being more in control of your emotions and not using violence/aggression to solve problems is a good thing.

Does not make men girly just more well rounded.

Tbf, I don't think this is really showing any diversity. It seems to be a lot of middle class men bemoaning how terrible masculinity is and suffering from a weird guilt at being born a man. Would it hurt to ponder the positive aspects of masculinity and being a man in general?

StupidLikeAFox · 26-09-2016 12:39PM

SemenInMyEyes wrote: »

Women be like: Where have all the good men gone?

I be like: They are all gay, transexual or feminised by 21st century society.

Are you a pirate?

gctest50 · 26-09-2016 12:44PM

pumpkin4life wrote: »

I'm reading the contributers here. A trans man. A gay man. That fùcking benny Fintan o Toole. A councellor.

I'm trying to figure out how these people are even remotely representative of white, hetrosexual, working to middle class Irish men?

They're just looking for (column) inches

http://imgur.com/KZCr90R

Birneybau · 26-09-2016 12:47PM

SemenInMyEyes wrote: »

Women be like: Where have all the good men gone?

I be like: They are all gay, transexual or feminised by 21st century society.

Apt name?

Lt Dan · 26-09-2016 12:48PM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

I have been flicking through it this morning with my eyes permanently lodged to the heavens

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/how-to-be-a-man

As if calling it "How to be a man" is bad enough, the headings include
How much should you work out? is it worth looking at the Squat?

Seven of the most popular beauty products for men

Bressie: Crying uncontrollably is liberating...and admitting you are vulnerable

Irish men on Masculinity, feminism and violence

It seems like a section for Men made by women. Or it confirms that the bitchification of males has been complete.

This newsreader says, yes to both.

Gone are the days when one could just turn to FHM , Nuts, Zoo, Rizzle

And no, it is not okay for men to cry uncontrollably. Crying is one thing, but uncontrollably? No. Never has and it never will. Be a man, not a dag

Since when did Breslin, whose career has failed, come remotely close to being a voice for the men of Ireland? What on earth has he achieved? Dating Rozz? Meh she is caked in make up and has a weird looking alien head (what has she done on the international scene?)

SemenInMyEyes · 26-09-2016 12:49PM

Yes. I am a pirate.

ChikiChiki · 26-09-2016 12:50PM

What's the craic with the Gay agenda these days? It's normalised and accepted with equal rights but some of the voices from the community can be OTT in my opinion. We get it your gay ffs, no need to shout it from the rooftops. It's like people are trying to stoke up some kind of revolution.

pumpkin4life · 26-09-2016 12:52PM

Lt Dan wrote: »

Gone are the days when one could just turn to FHM , Nuts, Zoo, Rizzle

And no, it is not okay for men to cry uncontrollably. Crying is one thing, but uncontrollably? No. Never has and it never will. Be a man, not a dag

Samaris · 26-09-2016 12:54PM

Look, we get it too. It's clickbait, not a feminist conspiracy. We all get this **** from the media about how to be a proper man/woman/gerbil.

And just because the writers are gay/trans/councellers and Fintan O'Toole still doesn't make this something that wimmin are forcing on you, OP. They are still males writing from -a- male perspective, even if not -your- male perspective.

Sorry fellas, agree with what they're saying or not, this is on you chaps to sort out, not the women who have nothing to do with it

Or at least, females who also have dealt with all this before are going to be less likely to help out if they're being accused of causing it when they patently haven't!

And as a final point, you don't actually have to believe everything you read. You are allowed to make up your own mind what effect your genitals should have on your behavior and outlook.

Lt Dan · 26-09-2016 12:54PM

pumpkin4life wrote: »

Damn straight. A good slap around the chops seems to be needed for these "men " of today. Thankfully those "men" are still a minority

OhHiMark · 26-09-2016 12:55PM

pumpkin4life wrote: »

I'm reading the contributers here. A trans man. A gay man. That fùcking benny Fintan o Toole. A councellor.

I'm trying to figure out how these people are even remotely representative of white, hetrosexual, working to middle class Irish men?

Who, of course, are the only people who matter.

OhHiMark · 26-09-2016 12:58PM

Lt Dan wrote: »

Gone are the days when one could just turn to FHM , Nuts, Zoo, Rizzle

And no, it is not okay for men to cry uncontrollably. Crying is one thing, but uncontrollably? No. Never has and it never will. Be a man, not a dag

Since when did Breslin, whose career has failed, come remotely close to being a voice for the men of Ireland? What on earth has he achieved? Dating Rozz? Meh she is caked in make up and has a weird looking alien head (what has she done on the international scene?)

He has people talking about mental illness openly. Do you need to be a Nobel laureate to start a discussion?

robbiezero · 26-09-2016 12:58PM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

I have been flicking through it this morning with my eyes permanently lodged to the heavens

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/how-to-be-a-man

As if calling it "How to be a man" is bad enough, the headings include
How much should you work out? is it worth looking at the Squat?

Seven of the most popular beauty products for men

Bressie: Crying uncontrollably is liberating...and admitting you are vulnerable

Irish men on Masculinity, feminism and violence

It seems like a section for Men made by women. Or it confirms that the bitchification of males has been complete.

This newsreader says, yes to both.

Because masculinity + feminism = violence.

LCD · 26-09-2016 01:01PM

"La Mer The Moisturising Gel Cream €265" One of the recommended 7 best beauty products for men. I had to google it just to check the price wasn't a typo.

Yes the price is €265 for 57g or €4.65 a gram

RobertKK · 26-09-2016 01:01PM

The best way to put an end to this rubbish is if people would stop buying rubbish like the Irish Times.

Who buys newspapers to see them tell a man 'how to be a man'?

Just be who you are, and think of all the money you could save if you didn't pay to be told that all men should be doing the same thing, and that is what what makes you a man.
I would be embarrassed with myself if I told another man 'how to be a man' or if I told a woman 'how to be a woman'.
Just be yourself.

OhHiMark · 26-09-2016 01:02PM

ChikiChiki wrote: »

What's the craic with the Gay agenda these days? It's normalised and accepted with equal rights but some of the voices from the community can be OTT in my opinion. We get it your gay ffs, no need to shout it from the rooftops. It's like people are trying to stoke up some kind of revolution.

Yeah I know. For ****'s sake gays. We gave you the right to marry, can you not just stay hidden away so that we don't have to look at you anymore?

The Irish Times' bizarre "How To Be a Man" section

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