I shall return when I figure out what exactly I am trying to say... If I ever do.

I don't like it when I see guys' reactions in movies or TV shows that aren't realistic. Especially when it doesn't match up to how they reacted to something different, or how they usually react. Don't just sit there! I thought you were the kind of guy that would yell, punch your pillow, and overturn the table!

Yes, exactly! (Or punch another person )
I have a pubescent teenage brother, and I take most of my examples from him and a few of my guy friends. But of course, the reactions change from character to character. Say, if the one guy in my story had a girlfriend, and she died, he would actually cry, and maybe sulk or something. Another would yell and break stuff. You know what I mean?
And Airi, I have a female character who is just like the guys I described Unfortunately, just when you're starting to like her, she does something bad, and you hate her again. I guess I want people to get confused about whether they like her or not.

The thing about men and women is that they are so different and so unique, even within their own sex.

Just another example of how incredibly amazing and complex God is.

Makes this thread interesting, though.

Yeah, that's part of what makes writing so fun and challenging-making every character unique in their own way

Eh...I'm late (I suppose that's obvious?).



I'll fourth that.

I may or may not be able to give input...there's already so much awesome stuff here, but I might be able to give my "take" on different things such as emotions and anger issues...maybe show a different way some guys view those (and possibly other) things...if anyone's interested.

@Wolf-Wouldn't you be fourthing it?
I don't know how exactly to word what I want to say here...
I'm going to give examples from real life. While they may not be consistently true with everyone, they may help me get my point across. Okay? Okay!

A guy hits a guy. I mean, punches him, as in hard. He brushes it off and the friendship continues.
A girl hits a guy, and even if it actually hurts, he'll act like it doesn't, and he won't mention it and will soon forget about it.
A girl hits a girl, and it is taken as a major insult.
A guy hits a girl, and we don't even WANT to get into how twisted and evil that can get.

A girl teases a guy, and he can, and usually does, laugh it off.
A guy teases a girl, and depending on the level of teasing, she can just brush it off, or she can get mad, even if the guy tells her he's kidding.
A guy teases a guy, and it can get really ugly, but the guy usually doesn't care, and teases back.
A girl teases a girl, and either the girl laughs it off and forgets about it, or acts like she forgets about it, while actually thinking of it every time she thinks of you. Or she will get really angry and start fighting, or just not want to be friends anymore.

Girls' emotions are a lot more complicated than guys' emotions. Guys (from what I know, having 3 brothers, many guy friends, and a lot of read books under my belt) mainly (I said mainly, not only! They have all the others too, they just don't poke their heads out as often.) have 3 emotions: Happiness, anger, and VERY angry anger. They usually have room for only one at a time, maybe two.
Whereas girls can be feeling many emotions at one time. I'll give an example based on myself: Anger, sadness, happiness and embarrassment, all at once. Well, the happiness was slight, but it was there.
Sadness, confusion, anger, and inadequacy is another combination I've had.

Now this one especially is one that is not always the occurrence.
A guy gets hurt, let's say he falls and skins his hands and knees. He brushes it off and doesn't even bother to clean or bandage it, either unless it's bleeding badly or until he's done with whatever he's doing. And he just goes and gets back on the skateboard, or whatever he was doing.
A girl falls, skinning her hands and knees, and goes to clean it, then is nervous about doing the thing she was doing when she fell, because she knows it can happen again and this makes her anxious.
Of course, girls like me fall and get a bunch of gravel embedded in their skin and then brush it off (People had to make me go see the camp nurses, because I didn't think it was bad enough and I didn't want to bother them).

Keep in mind I'm not saying all these things are the rule, rather what I've observed to be the norm.
Feel free to add or contradict, I'm not God, I know I'm not all-knowing.

That is what I meant to say.

You changed it. I looked up there and did a double-take, thinking I had read something wrong earlier.
So what did you think of my post..?

Yes, I changed it, but I said that I had done it wrong so for the record people can tell...

I thought it was more or less accurate.

I think you should be more active on this topic, Wolf, you're pretty much the only guy that comments on it... Us girls need input.

Have you read through the older posts? There's some really great stuff already here. If you want another male perspective on some of the things here, I could give mine, but I didn't want to go to the trouble if this thread was dead and no one would benefit. Do you have any particular questions, or should I just put my perception of some of these things (emotions, etc) here for yet another example?

If you wouldn't mind.

Guys have deeper emotion than that, in my experience with guys, they just don't show it the same way girls do. They can be sad or hurt or scared or confused and all the same things girls can be, it's just different. They are not as emotional, and don't express it in the same way, but they have all the same emotions.

If you ever want a highly unusual guy...ask me. I have the rarest personality type for guys, and reading a book about how women's minds work, I found it often describing how my mind works. Heh...

Although, I've found it's not a good idea to base a character on me. Every character I've seen that's based on me as a whole has turned out...weird. Unbelievable. I guess people have a hard time believing a guy who can't get angry. I'm like the opposite of Hulk. Do something that would typically make a guy angry and I retreat further behind my walls and become more and more quiet.

This is me. Every day.

Well like I said, it's not true for everyone. And I'm sorry, that can't be fun, unless it's in your "writing world". When I'm in the zone, I feel EVERYTHING my characters feel.

I mean the combination of emotions. Not those specific combinations. But something like that. Yup.

Yeah... that definition of guys seems very 2 dimensional to me, too.... I mean, I know a lot of guys, and they are every bit as complex, emotionally, as I am. They just respond in different ways. They think differently.

As I said in my very early post on this thread, guys are complex. They just have different responders.

True, like I said I don't claim to be the be-all and end-all of knowledge on this subject, far from it. But unless you're writing from the guy's point of view, if you're just writing about a man's reactions to things or what he appears to be feeling, I think my info is accurate.
But if you really wanted to portray exactly what's going on in the guy's head and body, as in perhaps a first-person story, then yes it goes much deeper.
(Also keep in mind that I am ALWAYS tired when I'm on HW. Just in case anything I say just plain doesn't make sense. )

I don't mind. I just don't have time now...I'll hopefully do it either tomorrow or this week, poke me if I forget.

Okay here goes.

As far as emotions go, I used to be more externally emotional than most kids my age (at least that's my perception), and I hated that. So now I do not cry very often at all...it's been several (I wanna say maybe 5-6) years since I really cried, sobbing and stuff. I think that it is related to not wanting to show weakness, like others have said. I cannot remember what makes me really cry like that, or I can't identify it.
I also tear up and have to consciously compose myself when other people are crying around me, though I'm starting to get used to my mom doing it (it's sort of a regularity sometimes, ).
For example, my Great-Grandmother died a few years ago, I loved her, we went to her house and did stuff there, it was painful for me to have her die, but at the funeral I found that I wasn't crying like everyone else and I almost felt like a jerk for it. But my reasoning was this: She wasn't having a good life anymore (she was pretty muchly blind and in pain), she lived a full, happy (from what I hear) life, and she's a Christian so she's happier now than ever before...
So...yeah the only reason I teared up at that funeral was that everyone else was crying.
Of course, I wouldn't respond to that if my mom/dad died, or anyone like that.
So...yeah, I totally don't understand how or why I cry when I do...I think I don't like to remember.



I think I'm like that, I stew on the problem. The times I cry are when the problem is making me totally despair and I fail to ignore it. I'm also usually alone at that time (otherwise I would ignore it).


I think this is true for me as well. *hasn't had to cry in front of people except when he was little* Though I don't think I'd let that happen either unless I was totally broken.


I can testify to this concept, my Aunt that is 5 years older than me can probably still toss bales better than I (though my excuse is that her hands are more calloused, xD), while I could beat her in armwrestling (this didn't even happen until I was like 14 or so).



I haven't noticed this (about scenery discussing) in particular, though it makes sense and it is probably accurate. I think I'd give directions the way you said a girl would (but that's because I almost never know streetnames...).



I think...that I'm not quite like this. At least, I've never had to be. If someone was attacking, say, one of my cousins or someone (well, hopefully almost anyone), and I knew beyond doubt that they were attacking them, I don't think I'd think twice before going over and clocking them (supposing for the sake of argument that I'm able to). But in most situations I am pretty hesitant.
In response to Jonathan's response, I think this is a good grouping system, I think I might be a hybrid thinker and follower that could be a leader if he had to be.



Yup.



I think this is how I treat most of my emotions, including happiness and excitement-though with happiness/excitement I don't exactly view that in the same way, I still hide it for (as far as I can tell) the same sort of reason. So this would go with crying, etc as well I think for me. Though...


I think I can relate here, I might "spill my guts" (which could include "whining" and "moaning", though not in that exact usage of those words, if that makes sense) to someone that would listen (and that seems to usually be a girl), but I'd never do that to an enemy or someone I didn't trust or someone I wanted to impress in a way.


Totally.



Me too, I think I could answer questions and try to help that way if there are any questions anymore...
I hope that this is somehow helpful.

It's the same way with me. I mean, I AM a girl, I think it's pretty well-known that we cry more than guys. But the only times I cry are when I'm very, very angry, sometimes I'll tear up and scream into my pillow a few times, or when I'm losing someone (the hardest I've ever cried was when I thought my friend was going to kill himself and I was praying for him-come to think of it, that story might be worth posting in here, it might help some people out), or when someone I'm close to dies (I've been to several funerals, but only cried at 2 of them). Other than that, I'm not really a crier. I let my emotions out in other ways (one time, I was so extremely mad at my sister, I punched a hole in the wall without even noticing I was hitting it hard enough to break through). I cried when my ex-boss cursed me out with very choice words, of which the mildest were "idiot" and "d*** fool" and then fired me, over a mistake SHE made, I was not at fault whatsoever, and at that point I couldn't get another job. So that was pretty upsetting.
But I don't even remember crying since the friend incident mentioned above. I know a lot of girls that cry at pretty much anything.
On another note, all the guys I'm friends with just naturally spill their guts to me. Either because I'm a girl, or because I'm a good listener and they know I'll keep their secrets, I don't know which. I mean, they tell me about their relationship problems, what is hurting them, pretty much everything... I feel great when they do.
Not sure if any of that was relevant... I'll post the story I mentioned earlier if y'all want. May help somebody with writing one of their male characters.

That is interesting.

*sees a few random subjects jumbled in with lots of quotes and words*

I...cry a lot. Only when I'm alone though.

I'm very protective.

I've never 'bonded' with any guy in any way (aside from my brothers, of course.)

Is this your description of my post? If so, it's a very apt description.



I think that is fine, crying doesn't make you a wimp or anything, no need to blush!

*chuckle* The thread in general. At least, as it appears to someone who just skims through it.

Oh, I see. That's an apt description of the thread, too.

If you have any specific questions I'd be glad to help out.

I know I'm not a guy, but I'm almost definitely sure I can answer this question.
It depends on how hotheaded Aaron is, how selfish he is, and also how loyal he is, how much he cares about these people and whether his anger and frustration can make him forget about his need to keep them safe.
He could:
A) Do it to keep them safe, but (of course) hate it and feel completely shamed.
B) Do it to keep himself safe (or a combination of A+B).
C) Not do it, because he wants to stand up for what's right (and perhaps he thinks he could overpower Iri).
D) Not do it, because his anger and frustration over having been captured, and the embarrassment at being commanded to kneel, overpower his better judgement.

Guys, as always, feel free to correct me.

Stepping aside from the question of personality (I'll leave that to the guys), how much experience does he have in martial arts? Is that something warriors are trained in? Personally, there are times I'm more comfortable with free hand combat and if he's now angry enough about the capture of his friends then there could be a lot of determination and adrenaline involved.

Good point, Kitten.

Depending on the skill level, rush Iri and take him by surprise, and take him hostage, and threaten to kill him unless the group is released. If not skilled enough, probably try and negotiate for their release anyways.

Also taking into account how much back-up Iri has.

Yeah, whether the others with him are capable of fighting or not.

I was counting on henchmen's loyalty that wouldn't let their boss be killed. And the perennial cowardice of villains.

Your scenario makes sense to me.

As to the questions:
Probably something more, but I'm not 100% sure.
Angry.
I wouldn't take my chances -- they're not mine to take.

But, I'm not Aaron, and the important thing is what makes sense for him.

I really want to write a story from a guys point of view but... I'm not a guy (I am in fact a really girly girl) so I have no idea how. Because I don't know how guys think. And people have told me that I stereo type guys wrong... haha:) So.... what to do...

When you write men and boys, do you ever think of the fact that not only are they protectors, they were given dominion over the earth and everything in it? Do you take into account how someone less warrior-like might feel about, say, their land?
This came to mind because I was talking to a friend of mine and he mentioned that he liked... you could say labouring. The specific example that he was talking about was cutting down trees, but that was the general idea. He said he enjoyed it because it gave him that sense of being a steward of the earth and having power over it.
So I was wondering how one would handle that aspect of a man's personality.

(I think women were given dominion over the earth too...and some of us love smashing things...)

But you're right I think, in that some boys seem to enjoy demolishing things more than many girls do. And that's probably another reason hunting tends to be a generally male activity. A lot of women don't want to hurt the "pretty deer."

Wellllll... about 98% of my friends are guys, I have two brothers, and about 98% of my characters are guys too.

I guess you could say I have the opposite problem of yours.

*agrees with Willow *

*gives Willow and Airianna a thumbs up*

It really annoys me when my fellow men act like women weren't given dominion over the earth. Women aren't inferior just because they're different than men, and men who don't understand that aren't being as respectful as they should be.

And smashing things is a love we should all share.

*returns to topic*

I don't really think of myself as warrior-like, more scholar-like. But I definitely feel deeply about the land, my area, and the earth in general, and I feel a sense of stewardship (and I feel awesome when cutting down trees, which I have done a few times, and which I recommend that everyone try).

But I think women are also stewards of the earth and have just as much power over it. Sometimes women may just express that differently.

As for feelings about the land:

I don't technically own any "land", but I still feel deeply about the land and specifically the beautiful area I live in.

Possession and feelings are tied to our labors with the land. When we labor and play on the land, we grow attached to it, we affect it, and it affects us. I could say so much more about land, but that would get beyond the scope of this topic. That's just the gist of how I, an un-warrior-like man, feels about the land and my dominion.

As for hunting...not every guy wants to kill pretty deer. To be honest, I would probably enjoy pulling the trigger on some nice prey of some kind, but I know myself well enough that I know I wouldn't do well at the gutting part. Or the packing 40 pounds of slippery, bleeding meat part.

I just do the wilderness, camping, and guns part, and leave out the killing/gutting/packing part.

Most of my extended family hunts, but none of them feel that this makes me less masculine.

And I know a lot of young women and married women who enjoy hunting. I have absolutely no problem with women hunting.

And I can't seem to stay on topic.

Oh yes. (in a constructive way, of course )

Well said.

Hehe! I always enjoy reading your threads, Jordan.

Yes, destruction should always be used constructively.



Is it the self-deprecating humor or my inability to stay on topic (hence this off-topic post)?

*grins * No, it is your honesty, actually. Even if I don't agree (which, in this thread, I do) I still like your honesty.

I actually have a male MC for the first time for my NaNo novel. I've only ever had secondary male characters. I'm going to need some male test readers to make sure I'm handling everything okay.