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Originally Posted by Spartan  Your article was titled 'how to be a man' implying that one must posses all traits listed in order to be considered a man, i.e 'one is a man if and only if one is xyz.' |
Nope, not at all. There's a higher level of thinking that goes into writing such articles, although I'd agree it isn't obvious at first glance.
I used the title "How to Be a Man" intentionally because I knew it would attract interest. I knew full well that some people would react critically to the title, and I'm not surprised by the high volume of discussion either. Less polarizing titles don't attract readers, and articles that don't get read can't help people grow.
The points in the article are worded strongly so as to provoke an internal reaction. The wording makes you consider whether you agree or disagree with each point. It's hard to remain neutral. This helps people consciously reconsider their beliefs. Do they like this definition of manliness or don't they? Why or why not? What qualities are positive? Which should be replaced? Do these qualities also apply to women?
It's good for people to object to points they don't agree with. It's also good for people to realize there are a lot of different viewpoints out there.
I've learned through trial and error (writing more than 700 free articles) that strongly worded points that provoke an internal reaction are more helpful to people in their pursuit of growth. Such articles push people to decide what's right for them, helping them to achieve greater clarity.
Learning cannot occur unless expectations are violated. If all expectations are met, there can be no learning and no growth; at best old patterns are merely reinforced. So in order to help people grow, I must continue to find ways to violate their expectations.
Consequently, you can expect me to continue to write articles that are designed to provoke an internal reaction, polarizing you to agree or disagree. My goal isn't to convince people to agree or disagree with me one way or the other. It's to help people consciously decide what's right for them.
Personally I'm glad to see you don't agree with the points in the article. It means you're consciously deciding for yourself. That takes courage.