What is manly? Options

[MrElsewhere]

*puts serious pants on*

There of course is the typical bearded, wood-cutter, muscular man (Chuck Norris joke goes here). But beyond that, how is a man manly?

I think a man should be strong mentally and emotionally. However, I am not saying that he is ideally a cold and calculating person. He is instead compassionate, honest, and respectful. At some point bravery comes into play in a man's life.

Compassionate men aren't as rare a breed as you might think. Although more of them would be a plus. But if a man is compassionate, it is fine for him to cry. But at times...bravery doesn't allow this or restricts it. Showing emotions that are stereotypically weak (fear, sorrow) does not make you any less of a man--it actually makes you more manly.

Integrity makes a man reliable (and even respectable!). Dependability allows men to be the rock of a family unit (as a father or guardian). On that note, being a good father is very manly. Betrayal and talking behind backs is unbecoming of a man because it fosters a lot of hate and disunity among men. Although integrity can force a man to do what he knows to be right, even if it betray others.

Women say chivalry is dead and they are for the most part correct. Many guys don't do the little niceties that women like. During the beginning stages of a relationship, the guy would open the door, pull out the chair, or offer the jacket, but as time goes by, many just kind of stop. The relationship is comfortable and these subtle details seem unnecessary. Chivalry shows respect for the relationship, it shows men still care.

TL;DR version: Men iz compassionate, honest, and respectful. Sometime men iz brave, too.

What else constitutes a man?

*takes serious pants off*

[Maccabee]

I think manliness might differ from man to man depending on what his women thinks is manly.