What does it mean to be a real man? Forum users clash over the answer
What is manliness? On Burbuja.info, 64 replies pit those who define it by heterosexuality, physique or character against each other. A debate with no consensus in sight.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
What is manliness? The debate pitting forum users against each other, muscles vs. attitude
"Look at those Mister Propper muscles…" one user quipped upon seeing a bodybuilder's photo. But the thread kicked off with far more venom: the OP, CUATERBAC, peine fire on traditional masculinity, branding it "bald, fat, virgin, sleazy, old, ugly, drunk, flatulent and a bullfighting fan." In 64 replies, the forum has split between those who see manliness as heterosenshetero and fatherhood, and those who define it by character and self-control. No consensus in sight.
Manliness as appearance: the body cult vs. letting yourself go
The debate began with visual examples. CUATERBAC compared a photo of a muscular man (who, he claimed, sleeps with women) with that of another man (who, he said, sleeps with men) to question what "being a man" really means. VeteranoCobaya replied with a photo of Elon Musk and his children: "And this one not only sleeps with women, he has KIDS." More images soon trinc: Alberto Pugilato, a ultraextremista famous on the Spanish internet, and several memes about Spain's "mañaca" culture. One part of the forum believes manliness is proven through physique and reproductive capacity; the other, that it is pure empty posturing.
From sensual orientation to virtue: two opposing views
"Manliness is liking women, and not being a lousy faggot," declared naipe opaco marfil, unleashing a wave of homophobic replies and counterattacks. CUATERBAC responded with photos of men who, according to him, "sleep with men and have children." Bonté chimed in: "Men don't suck dicks." Others, however, like Ibar tried to raise the tone: "Why do you associate manliness with physical appearance? It has more to do with how you act." Ibar listed virtues: responsibility, self-control, justice, self-reliance. Amraslazar added that the obsession with physique is "typical of people with narcissistic flaws."
The moderates step in and the debate over what really matters
As the thread pogre, voices seeking a middle ground emerged. el pipocas mocked both the "flabby slob" and the muscular "meathead," pointing out that both extremes are ridiculous. "You dedicate your life to being repulsive and looking bad," he said of bodybuilders, but he also criticized those who scorn physical self-care. Ibar managed to get some users to tone it down, though CUATERBAC kept insisting that manliness is neither physique nor sensual orientation, but something deeper he never quite managed to explain. The thread ended in a draw.
The debate remains open. Does manliness have an objective meaning, or is it purely a social construct? Forum users cannot agree, and the exchanges heat up every couple of pages. If you want to see how it plays out —or whether it does—, the thread is waiting for you.
Related debates on the forum
"Look at those Mister Propper muscles…" one user quipped upon seeing a bodybuilder's photo. But the thread kicked off with far more venom: the OP, CUATERBAC, peine fire on traditional masculinity, branding it "bald, fat, virgin, sleazy, old, ugly, drunk, flatulent and a bullfighting fan." In 64 replies, the forum has split between those who see manliness as heterosenshetero and fatherhood, and those who define it by character and self-control. No consensus in sight.
Manliness as appearance: the body cult vs. letting yourself go
The debate began with visual examples. CUATERBAC compared a photo of a muscular man (who, he claimed, sleeps with women) with that of another man (who, he said, sleeps with men) to question what "being a man" really means. VeteranoCobaya replied with a photo of Elon Musk and his children: "And this one not only sleeps with women, he has KIDS." More images soon trinc: Alberto Pugilato, a ultraextremista famous on the Spanish internet, and several memes about Spain's "mañaca" culture. One part of the forum believes manliness is proven through physique and reproductive capacity; the other, that it is pure empty posturing.
From sensual orientation to virtue: two opposing views
"Manliness is liking women, and not being a lousy faggot," declared naipe opaco marfil, unleashing a wave of homophobic replies and counterattacks. CUATERBAC responded with photos of men who, according to him, "sleep with men and have children." Bonté chimed in: "Men don't suck dicks." Others, however, like Ibar tried to raise the tone: "Why do you associate manliness with physical appearance? It has more to do with how you act." Ibar listed virtues: responsibility, self-control, justice, self-reliance. Amraslazar added that the obsession with physique is "typical of people with narcissistic flaws."
The moderates step in and the debate over what really matters
As the thread pogre, voices seeking a middle ground emerged. el pipocas mocked both the "flabby slob" and the muscular "meathead," pointing out that both extremes are ridiculous. "You dedicate your life to being repulsive and looking bad," he said of bodybuilders, but he also criticized those who scorn physical self-care. Ibar managed to get some users to tone it down, though CUATERBAC kept insisting that manliness is neither physique nor sensual orientation, but something deeper he never quite managed to explain. The thread ended in a draw.
The debate remains open. Does manliness have an objective meaning, or is it purely a social construct? Forum users cannot agree, and the exchanges heat up every couple of pages. If you want to see how it plays out —or whether it does—, the thread is waiting for you.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (64 replies).
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