Nerd Fight Clubs

[dreamofk]

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-05-29-fight-club_x.htmRead more... )

Comments

[jugisahunk_1]

You are right, men are wrongfully emasculated by our society however these men have chosen, in my opinion, a woefully inadequate and harmful way of trying to "remasculate" themselves. To relegate masculinity or, as one software engineer in the article "macho," to the pummeling of another person is a painfully (pun intended) inept way to exercise that yearning of a man to feel strong or respected. It could be viewed as the difference between internal and external forces. If man1 and man2 duke it out, man1 may grow stronger and, if he beats down man2, gain respect, but he only does so at the expense of man2. Not to say that some men shouldn't be beaten down...cuz...they do...and should be. That more permanent and true development of machismo comes from an inner transformation of a man's identity, when a man knows "who he is" without relying on the ability to lambaste all opponents

[hadavar_barak]

Whereas I respectfully disagree. These men are trying to reclaim an aspect of the masculine soul, an aspect that our society batters and batters until it's unrecognizable. You can't tell a man to be strong like Jesus in Gethsemane unless he already IS strong. I mean, if you told me to do that, I might SAY the same things that Jesus did, but you know what would really be speaking? Fear. Not strength. Fear. Whereas the strength that Jesus showed resulted elsewhere in his taking a whip into the temple and driving out all of the merchants who, at the behest of the corrupt priests, were taking advantage of the people

[jugisahunk_1]

I will respond to several of your points categorically

[hadavar_barak]

It's fair to say that I don't disagree at all with the core of your argument-- that we should use Christ to find the ways to build our strength, and that everything He did, from the gentle to the violent, was an expression of that strength that He had. I might disagree about whether the "key" of his violence is that it was an isolated incident (there's a lot going on in that story behind the scenes, most of it having to do with the fact that the priests were corrupt and were often bribed by the merchants to reject the peoples' offerings so that they would buy the merchants' goods as offerings instead), but I understand your point

[eyelashpeekie]

So, this comment is going to look unintelligent compared to what has already been said but I think it's really great that these men see the importance of being warriors. It seems rare nowadays, especially in corporate America. It's true that what these guys are doing is dangerous in terms of the risk of getting hurt or killed - sweet! It may sound extreme but the fear of taking such a risk and the need to shelter, shelter, shelter is lame and pathetic. Of course I couldn't bear witness to these brawls without wincing, puking, passing out, or all of the above, but good job to these guys for, if nothing else, realizing the importance of maintaining this element of manhood.

[jugisahunk_1]

Well said, peekie. I agree with everything you said, though perhaps I will take your word that you would puke and pass out ;) .

[leepmeister]

I think it's sweet. As you may recall, I wrestled in high school. Greatest thing ever. There is NOTHING like facing someone 1-on-1 in something that combines skill, strength, and tolerance for pain. There is a rush associated with it that doesn't come from other sports, in my experience, because your BODY is in danger, not just your point total.

David may recall venting with me on a few occasions in "friendly" wrestling fights. When I was younger, I used to fight with wooden swords. This was mostly because of the cool medieval fantasy element, but still, it was a sense of adventure and danger. Since then I have become somewhat more averse to striking. There is a lot less danger in a grappling sport than a striking sport.

While the article itself quoted some guy talking about masculinity, why does that need to matter? Fighting is FUN, for some of us, and the point of "proving yourself ot others" is somewhat irrelevant, although some may do it for that purpose.