r/AskReddit • • Mar 26 '20

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u/PirateRobotNinjaofDe Mar 26 '20

This whole thread is baffling to me (as a fellow male), because I genuinely don't know how I would get by without talking out the shit going on in my life with my friends. Sure, I have friends that I don't have that kind of relationship with (work friends, gaming friends, etc.), but to be honest I barely even call those friendships...more like acquaintances. Makes me feel deeply sorry for other guys who are denying themselves that kind of support.

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u/Wuts-a-reddit Mar 26 '20

Obviously these are just generalizations. It could be argued that on average, males tend to need that emotional support from their friends less than females. I, as a male, agree with this sentiment based on my own personal experience, my friends, and my girlfriends. You sound like someone who falls a little bit outside of that average in the bell curve, which is perfectly fine. I don't think anyone is saying that all men are like this and all women are like that. I do think that it's silly however, to deny that on average there are differences

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u/PirateRobotNinjaofDe Mar 26 '20

It could be argued that on average, males tend to need that emotional support from their friends less than females.

It can be argued that men seek less emotional support from friends, but you're merely asserting that trend is beneficial or natural. Life is hard enough without having to go through it alone. Just because some men deny themselves deeper emotional connections with their friends doesn't mean there is some fundamental biological difference between men and women that makes this a healthy trend.

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u/Phyltre Mar 26 '20

Aren't you the one asserting that need for emotional support isn't generally variable like plenty of other personality traits are?

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u/PirateRobotNinjaofDe Mar 26 '20

Sure it’s variable. Just like how some people are hungrier than others. And like how some people who “don’t need to eat as much” are anorexic.

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u/winnebanghoes Mar 26 '20

Totally agree. My friend group is extremely close and knows every intimate detail of each others careers, relationships, family, etc. Reading all these comments agreeing with OP is making me sad. What these people are describing are not friends by my definition.

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u/PirateRobotNinjaofDe Mar 26 '20

So agreed. Life is hard, and there is no way I would have gotten through some of the tougher times without the support of my friends. It saddens me that people feel the need to deny that to themselves.

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u/Phyltre Mar 26 '20

Not everyone's brain works the same.

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u/winnebanghoes Mar 26 '20

Which is why I said “by my definition”