The Weird Way Men Show their Desperation for Vulnerability
I suppose my problem with vulnerability started on the playground. Sometimes when we’d roughhouse, someone would pretend to be mortally wounded, everyone would crowd around him and then he’d just jump up and laugh at us.
I did it sometimes too. It was like a running gag. Until one day, I actually did get hurt and I was actually crying. People crowded around, pretty certain that I got messed up, but what did I do? I jumped up, laughed and pretended everything was fine.
Some guys protested, saying that I should take it easy but I just limped along, promising that I was fine. Then the adrenaline kicked in and I really didn’t feel pain anymore, until recess was over and I felt it all over again.
Running away from vulnerability is apparently Manhood 101, a rite of passage, a running gag. It does more harm than good and we probably look really stupid to women and even to ourselves.
This type of behaviour doesn’t limit itself to just a playfield. It shows up in family matters, in your job and in sex/relationships.
How exactly are you going to get a date if you don’t show interest in someone? You have to be vulnerable to an extent, don’t you? You have to show that a girl’s beauty or personality compelled you to talk to her or to want to sleep with her.
