And I certainly do not consider myself the benchmark for men. I have been around far to long and met too many people to presume that.
But I do consider myself as evidence that the standard model so vehermently presented by so many men and women is certainly not universal.
All I ask is that people start to acknowledge that all men are not ******** and stop persecuting those who don't fit the stereotype.
It is tough in adolesence to so frequently be the butt of others attempt to reassure themselves, to be accused of being gay, to be humiliated for shedding a tear at emotional times.
Unfortunately, unlike women who found support among their peers both male and female when they demanded to be treated as people, men who dare to have emotions so often battle on alone and are frequently humilated.
I am only thankful for the support of a few people during my life (mostly women) who did appreciate me as an individual rather than consider me to be a strange man.