My dad says you have to learn how to take a punch before you can be a man. Is that true?

Answer 1

Real men use their brains and their words not their fists.

Answer 2

Dj,

It's true.

Everyone so far has said no: but let me tell you something a bit different because I want you to understand something of human nature.

Your dad is giving you advice on how he came to be. The sentence "you won't be a man until you learn to take a punch" means things. It means a lot of things - and yes, at first; and probably the way he uses it to you; (and you can tell everyone assumes the same from what they read) - it means a physical beating. That you won't be a man until you understand how to get beat up.

There is WAY more to that sentence than the physical part. It may take years, but you will eventually come to your own understanding of what that sentence really means. You just have to find different ways of looking at it.

Why does your dad say it like that?
Because he - like most everyone - has a hard time communicating. They have a difficulty expressing PAST the point of the sentence they say.

Have you ever asked your dad what the sentence means to him? Why he says it so much? Where did he learn it? Have you ever asked him to describe the first time he heard it? Or who said it to him? When did it become such an important thing to try and pass on?

Regardless of who this dad is, if he loves you, he is trying to tell you something. It is DIRE and *an emergency* for him that you learn what he is trying to tell you. But he can't. In the end, all older men are big old dumb animals. He is saying "rock... rock... rock.... roick"" when he is trying to say "Would you please pass the hammer so I can put this nail in the wall?"

Try to find out what "take a punch before you can be a man" really means.

I can tell you this much: life is *very* hard. It isn't peachy. It never was, never will be, but everyone in the world tries to make it sound like there is some sort of ending to a story that will be "happily ever after" as they told my generation (in the 90s.)

It's worth it though. You just have to learn to be able to get your *** kicked by life, stand up, brush off the dirt - smile - and keep going with your ultimate plan. Whatever it is.

Answer 3

No D.J. that is not true. Being a man is about taking responsibility for your own actions, not about being a bully and punching other people, or being punched. If your dad wants to punch other people, hook him up with the boxing ring!!!! Don't stoop to that type of low life mentality, please! I knew this guy once that had the same mentality as your dad, he is dead now because of it. There is always someone bigger and meaner than you out there that may deliver a punch you can't survive.
Being a man means being accountable for your actions; admitting when you are wrong; being strong enough to share your real self with the person you love; it means being true; faithful; and full of integrity. I don't hear that in your dad's statement. Think about it. Love is not abusive. Nana

Answer 4

Yes. A man, and a women, is supposed to be able to take something bad. Let it be a punch or whater. They are supposed to be able to take it and counter it. Stand back up and live a better life.

To me, when someone says that, its just like saying " you need to learn from your mistakes".

To be a true man, you have to know yourself. You should be proud. You arent supposed to be out there killing people just to be doing it. Not supposed to be getting in fights, because it makes you feel like a man.

A man...a man builds himself. He learns. A man, just like a women, is a hard thing to find. You know all those things you hear? Like how a man is faithful, honest, trustworthy, and all that good stuff? That is basically what a man is. A man is smart in his own way. May not be a genius when it comes to the books. But he knows how to live.


Yeah. Your dad is wrong but at the same time...he is pretty close to the truth.

Answer 5

No, maybe he got it confused with "you have to learn to make punch before you can be a man", yeah I think that's it. Seriously, I can take a punch and I've yet to grow a penis, so really, no, that does not make you a man. Just a hooligan.

Answer 6

Yes it's true. People that resolve problems with words are p.ussies. jk. It takes a bigger man to walk away but it takes a strong man to take a hit and it takes a complete man to do both tactfully. So, learn to take a punch. But also learn to dodge a punch. Aw, yes.

Answer 7

NO! that is not true thats just your dad being a dad I know My dad is the sameway the day you become a man is the day that your life changes forever it could be when you take a [unch or it could be when you have sex who knows mybe it could be when you get married or protest against something like I said you never know hte possiblities are endless.

Answer 8

He could have meant that literally. If your Dad punches you he is a loser abuser and should go to jail, however, if you are attacked you should know how to defend yourself. If you are a man, you should know how to take a punch which means you should know how to stick up for yourself (figuratively).

Answer 9

yes but look at it from all angles.
you are going to get kicked around (sometimes physically) but also emotionally. you need to learn to stand your ground when you are right. and when the "punch" comes you need to stand strong or have enough common sence to walk away gather more information and come back swinging with yuor brains.
learning to take a punch to me is learning not to take it to personally and dust yourself off

Answer 10

Hopefully he just meant figuratively meaning you have to learn to roll with the punches that life can lay on you.

Answer 11

Your dad is right. That doesn't mean you have to fight. It means life is going to throw punches your way. You have to stand strong during the hard times.