Today's Random Blah

So I was at the gym today (shocking), and while in the sauna, something bothered me.

There were these two jock-looking guys who were talking about another guy apparently upstairs at the weights who, as they put it, could only put up 50 lbs. They used the terms, "weak, puss, sissy" and the phrase, "my sister can lift that much". It was interesting to me because today, we talked about masculinity and how if you are not macho, strong, muscle-bulging, and such, you will be called names just as the ones listed above. Compared to a girl, even. It's insulting, right? This poor guy wasn't even in the same room as these other two "dudes", who were insulting his weight training abilities.

Maybe they were reacting in a way that was natural to them. Comparing muscles and other sizes with each other to prove who is more macho and tough than the other. I mean, it's one thing to comment on someone else's ability, or inability, to do something you can do, but to build off what your buddy said? That's seriously like stretching to be above your own friend whom you have engaged in this silly conversation with in the first place.

Could this be because our society has always seen men who workout as buff, muscular, hulk-like bodybuilders? We see athletes who have muscular builds, but we don't know how much they can lift. It just means they work out and play sports. I didn't know there was an unwritten rule as to how much weight you had to lift to be considered a manly man. Hell, maybe he just wanted to tone up and look good! Either way, I don't think anyone wants to be like anyone else. Everyone just wants their own life. Here, we have a classic case of men comparing things that really don't need to be of their concern.



I was alone with them in sauna and had my headphones on, so I'm assuming they only had that little conversation because they thought I wasn't listening to them. I came to this rationale because when I did pipe up and say, "I can only lift the 50 lbs bells too", they kind of smiled and said, "well, everyone starts off somewhere and has their own goals, we didn't mean to offend you."

I wasn't sure at this point whether or not they saw me as a threat to their masculinity or that they honestly felt sincere about insulting my intelligence with their babble. Either way, it just goes to show you that if people don't know what one person may consider a joke about manliness could be offensive to another, how will they ever learn? I mean, really? Really?

Point: Silence is acceptance. Just because someone has a different point of view doesn't mean they know what is and is not offensive. Speak up! Don't hide!