Well said brother. Except the holding it in and beating the shit out of someone I was close to. But yeah I can understand bottling things up and wanting to take it out on someone. I have to hold myself back from wanting to beat up some asshole who treats people badly.

The whole 'being a man" image....what does it mean? To be an unfeeling machine?

People who see me think I am very manly. And is some ways I am ...tall, big, athletic, usually cool and collected, or good at projecting that image etc. but I was raised by a single mom who was super emotional.

Being a guy I always looked for male role models from tough guys and tried to suppress my feelings a lot. I always made fun of my mom for being emotional and silly things for crying at tv shows and movies.

Now as an adult, I keep that wall, but with girls I date seriously I let it down. I'll tear up saying goodbye at times, occasionally when really bad things happen and need someone to vent to, or watching a touching drama, especially if kids or animals are involved. I get teased a lot by not really in a mean way.

Had an ex say I'm only manly from a distance haha. But I feel like I have to hold that stuff in and can only share it with a super close and intimate female partner, not even my best guy friends.

But some girls want men to open up but will still tease you if you are emotional. But then I just don't care anymore, I tear up at movies, I'm just a sensitive guy. haha