hi Direction,

just my two cents........i think that our society has to reject the ideal that men cannot display their feelings (of sadness, alienation, depression, etc.) w/o being labelled as an efeminate male or a homosexual, etc. i believe that this was also a large factor in the Columbine massacre, as well.

i wrote an essay on this exact topic -- referencing Columbine & BFC too -- in my "Psych of Sex Roles" uni class, back in 2004. maybe i'll get the courage to post it.

this is a topic that i feel very strongly about. pls, let all people cry & (safely) express their feelings of sadness, depression, lonliness, etc. w/o any shame.

i bawled my eyes out a week ago tonight on a public bus for ~ 20 mins...............and now, i'm almost "glad" that i did.

how come it's acceptable to express laughter, joy, elation, contentment, etc., but NOT hurt, sadness, fear, depression, (etc.) (most of the time, espec for men)? i'll tell you why.........our gender "prescriptions" are messed up.....and ppl don't want to deal w/ sadness, etc..........

we are human. we cry. we hurt. we cry. we need to cry.

*** stepping off soapbox now ***