This week’s prompt is: Do you feel pressured to be a useful man?
Thought I’d start off this weekly discussion thing with an old discussion post from when we were quite a bit smaller. Put another way: How does your understanding of utility inform your own and other folk’s perceptions of masculinity?
This post will stay pinned until next week’s discussion post.
No pressure required… Being useful is what I am and what I’ve always been. I’m a farmer and tradesman and almost completely self-sufficient in a rural area, so it’s rare that I even sit down. Everything I have I’ve built or repaired myself. If I do sit down it’s usually because I’m learning new skills or knowledge, or sharing mine with others.
I try to have a surplus of everything so I can give it away to people who need it, I’ll fix appliances or vehicles or infrastructure for anyone who needs the help. If I’m truly bored I’ll go down to the dump and pick through the steel pile for something I can fix up or use for materials.
I’ll admit straight up that I don’t think much of a man if he isn’t useful in some way. Men evolved to be strong and driven so that we can build and support others, IMO. Personally I don’t associate with useless people of either gender, I don’t have time for them. Better pitch in if you want to be a part of the community where I live.