Handbook
by
Dangrus
Of Men and men
This is something we women hear often. That we should respect men. They do not have to earn that respect, they should simply be respected because they are men.
Hmmmm.... I disagree. Let's face it. Whether we wish to admit it or not, respect is something that must be earned. Respect is an emotion. No one, regardless of gender can command another to respect them, any more than one can demand that another love them.
How do I reconcile this inability to respect each and every man with my place in the natural order? Well... it is not as difficult as one might think. There are several men who have earned my respect. I did not "test" them to see if they were "worthy." They simply demonstrate through the way they comport themselves that they are deserving of respect. They are strong and secure in their masculinity. Honest and forthright in their dealings with people. They are true to themselves and what they believe in. Proud of who and what they are. Big enough to admit when they are wrong, they take responsibility for their actions. While never too proud to apologize for a wrongdoing, they never apologize for who they are. These are men who have mastered themselves. Gorean men. Men who have inspired my respect.
But what of the men who are none of these things? Men who are shallow and insecure. Men who need to bully women to make themselves feel somehow more "manly." Men who are weak and petty and too arrogant to even notice their own ignorance. Men who, instead of striving to be the best they can be, make excuses for what they are not. How does a woman respect these men?
Easy... She doesn't. What she does respect is THE FACT of his gender. She respects his place in the natural order as ahead of hers. She respects that. If push comes to shove, she will defer to him. However, she is under no obligation (and I do not believe it is possible even if she tried.) to respect him.
So that is the answer. While I will respect every man's place in the natural order, it by no means means I will respect every man. That personal respect for the man himself... Well, that is inspired by the man himself. And the men who inspire that... are still relatively rare.
