Scary Movie

I hate scary movies. Never liked them. Never watched Nightmare on Elm Street or Jason. But, I saw a really scary homemade video this morning. It has the potential to keep me from sleeping at night. I know what you’re thinking…Blair Witch Project. Nope, worse.

This video was made by two guys, one with the camera and the other with a mic. They walk around a city street stopping pedestrians and bikers to ask them this question: “What does it mean to be a man, and how does a male become one?” They stopped all kinds of guys ranging from teenagers to senior citizens. One guy was walking with his significant other and refused to answer the question, hurrying past the camera. He wasn’t the only one. You could hear the quake of insecurity in their voice; you could see it in their demeanor.

Very few had answers. This absolutely baffles me. We males spend our entire lives seeking validation and entrance into manhood, even from the time we are 5. But who defines it and who tells us when we are there? Those who did risk answering mentioned things like responsibility and interacting with the community. One guy said masculinity meant “cruisin’ chicks.” Pretty deep stuff, I know. Another 60-something year old said he became a man when he turned 14 because he lost his virginity and worked his first job.

Tell me this nightmare is only a movie.