In my video chat with my friends (a bunch of dudes in mid 20s to early 30s) this week, a friend show off his collection of books he read over the past year. A total of 31 books from scifi novels, literary classics, political theory, outdoors/nature books, and car maintenance. Which got use discussing how we'd all probably "should" (I mean this in the least reactionary way possible) read more. We then started discussing other things we all "should" and things we all "should" know as men. Then we all kinda circled back to so much of the "man-o-sphere" is like half a step away from some real regressive and slimeball mindsets across the spectrum. Then we on to our evening gaming session (we are getting back into RTS and played 2v2 sets of Dawn of War, we are all very bad at the game).
However, it got me thinking that there is probably some value in me knowing how fix the sink or whatever. One friend mentioned he'd love to learn and do more, but everything is so cheap so much is meant to be replaced, it doesn't make sense to learn how to maintain them. Personally I find the idea of self-sufficiency (in the least "rugged man/classical masculinity" online cosplay-y way possible) to be dope, but I find that trying to learn that sort of stuff brings you into proximity of lots of nasty ideology.
Personally I think it's rad a working-class guy like my friend has time to be so well-read and manages to find time for "bettering" (again, I find this wordage to be a bit lib-y in the sense it's often used to make oneself more marketable or whatever) himself without falling into a "12 Rules For Life" sorta trap. I'd love to improve my "manliness" but would like to do so without all the toxicity of the antiquated archetypical stuff.
Sorry this doesn't make a ton of sense. Typing on my lunch break. My question, I guess, is what are some "traditional" values you think are worth "returning to" without the gross underlying traits that make them quickly turn conservative nonsense.
That's why I wish we had more holidays in general. I also very much Halloween for similar reasons, as it creates an air of playfulness I think is desperately needed in adult life. I'm not a big thanksgiving guy, but I'm a big Christmas guy. I love the culture of kindness, joy, cheer, and giving that Christmas creates. It's even better when these feelings are genuine rather than culturally performative. I totally agree, the consumption and fetishism is dumb as hell. It's probably good that we all have a time when we all slow down and hangout with our friends and family (even make new friends and family) is cool and good.
under a sensible system we would not need specific dates set out by dead people for this kind of thing though
down with holidays
True! However, I would posit that communal festivities are probably good to have in that sensible system as well. I think communal festivities/holidays are probably good for building community. There are many genuine virtues and values which we uphold every day (both in the sensible system and in our current insensible system) but I think holidays are probably good to highlight those things. That's just IMHO.