(no subject)

I'll write this here in my space, because it certainly doesn't belong in any bigger or broader space.

When you say, emphatically, "all men are X," you are not inviting the question, "what can I do to stop being X?" Whatever man you know of who is *least* X has not stopped being X. It suggests that as a man, you *will* not get out of that category with any human degree of effort.

So "all men are X" doesn't encourage "stop being X." Rather, it states "you will be X no matter what you do, no matter what effort you exert."

Is that a good thing?

Depends on X.

(It can also be a straight-up social signal, invitation to fight, or filter on who's listening, e.g. "all men are trash." But I'm ignoring that at the moment.)

(no subject)

Randomly in the last post, I was reminded of this quote which I keep in mind occasionally...

"Perhaps he also thought that you were Saruman," said Gimli. "But you speak of him as if he was a friend. I thought Fangorn was dangerous."

"Dangerous!" cried Gandalf. "And so am I, very dangerous: more dangerous than anything you will ever meet, unless you are brought alive before the seat of the Dark Lord. And Aragorn is dangerous, and Legolas is dangerous. You are beset with dangers, Gimli son of Glóin; for you are dangerous yourself, in your own fashion. Certainly the forest of Fangorn is perilous—not least to those who are too ready with their axes; and Fangorn himself, he is perilous too; yet he is wise and kindly nonetheless."

It's one of the oddities of adulthood. People are fragile, yet strong. We are all dangerous in our way.