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Avon Cheng's avatar

I'm saving this for my son and my students. A lot of my students were born out of wedlock and don't have positive male figures in their lives.

Very happy for you on your journey to manhood. Amazing article! 👏

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Sotiris Rex's avatar

Awesome! Thank you.

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sram54's avatar

Very elaborate and impressive. But I see that these are virtues all people should have-it doesn’t define manliness alone. It defines all virtues that a man or woman should aspire to have

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Sotiris Rex's avatar

Thank you. In general, you are right. We can all benefit from such qualities, but a man needs be defined by them, identity with them, not just have them. Also, the self-reliance quality cannot define a woman. A woman by nature is vulnerable during pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare. To be completely self-reliant would mean sacrificing her maternal inclinations. Surely, there’s a lot to be debated, expanded, and discovers on this. I’m glad you made this comment

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sram54's avatar

I get your drift. One other point, I’d like to make-there is a maturity continuum- not my words, Stephen Covey’s. The virtues of independence and self-reliance belong to the second stage of maturity. Real leaders move to the third stage, inter-dependence, I.e. they are aware that the way to maximize achievement and be super-effective in life is through building win-win relationships, collaboration, equity and partnerships. I am sure you have implied these qualities in some of the virtues listed, but I thought it makes sense to call it out.

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Sotiris Rex's avatar

Yes, thank you for adding to the conversation. Insightful. This last part relates to my general philosophy of rational cooperation based on win-win intent, the only way to maximize utility for all parties involved

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Shadiya's avatar

Yes, I was going to say the same. You beat me to it. So my only other niggle is the idea of the need for innocence in women. Innocence is a state of being for children, not adults, surely? If you are still wandering around in a state of innocence as an adult, I would personally find that rather worrying.

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Sotiris Rex's avatar

How about instead of childish innocence we talk about healthy modesty (not shame) and her embrace of her vulnerability?

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Vxi7's avatar

This is a gold mine! Well written

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Sotiris Rex's avatar

Thank you. Kindly share with anyone who'd gain value from it.

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Vxi7's avatar

saving it for my son :)

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Sotiris Rex's avatar

Awesome!

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