An innate human ability is to understand one’s own flaws through observation and introspection. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always mean we fix these problems. Societal pressure and sheer stubbornness often place us in situations we would rather avoid. One of the most obvious examples of a human flaw is the concept of masculinity. I’m not sure where this idea came from, but it probably dates back to early mankind. A helpful hint: if something existed before the wheel, it’s probably a bit outdated. This is certainly true for masculinity. In fact, the characteristic held by a majority of the male population holds no benefit whatsoever. It’s simply a manifestation of our pride and massive egos, and most of the time, it only leads to trouble. While any human being is capable of fighting, the testosterone-fueled, hot blooded males seem to jump at the chance to engage in physical violence more than their female counterparts. We sign up to be left bloody and bruised, all so we can see if we can outlast our opponents. The cause of this seems to be a societal issue. Every other movie released in America depicts a tough-guy male protagonist who can only solve his problems by breaking bones and taking lives. In real life, people don’t karate chop each other’s throats, so get these fantasies out of your heads. Kicking the crap out of someone doesn’t actually make you look cool. Fighting obviously isn’t good for one’s health, but men engage in much more dangerous activities for equally meaningless rewards. I’ll admit, I’ve participated in some pretty stupid things. I’ve competed with friends in ice bath, dry ice touching, spicy food eating and other competitions to find a “strong-willed individual.” In the end though, all I gained was cold fingers, a fire in my throat and a burn mark on my hand. These little tests certainly didn’t prove how tough I was. Neither does inconveniencing one’s self with the goal of “looking cool.” Recently, I cut my thumb at work. Then I decided not to clean or cover this cut because “I’m a man and I embrace flowing blood.” The blood certainly flowed. Since there was no protective covering, I reopened it several times, once even on my history teacher, Mr. Nathaniel Langelli. This idea applies to more than just bandages. Coats and seat belts are among the many important tools ignored by foolish men. Personally, I continue to make these errors, even though I fully understand the stupidity of the scenario. I was raised with certain ideas in my head that have led me astray. Slowly though, I’m learning the truth. I know it’s okay and even healthy to cry. I know punching someone hurts my fist as much as their face. Most importantly, I know I don’t want to die bloody, angry, and full of red meat. That’s why it’s time to man-down, before it’s too late.