What do you think of guys who say: "Reading is for sissies..."

@inkyuboz (1392)
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
March 28, 2009 5:47pm CST
I find it really demeaning to hear that from other guys. I am a reader and I am proud of it. Reading gives me the edge over my colleagues because I can join in many conversations that most guys wouldn't be able to join. I also am a very opinionated person so reading stuff daily gives me the data I need so that I can make a stand in certain issues and dilemmas. So what do you think of people who think reading is for sissies?
4 people like this
24 responses
@ghmatt (26)
• United States
29 Mar 09
Books are the bane of society. They hold within themselves, infinite knowledge and entertainment. No matter if you read a non-fiction or fiction, everyone of them holds an intricate line of detail that we feed into our brains, that results in increased knowledge and understanding. Should we remove books from our society, we would have a major incease in illiteracy. To those who say Books are for sisses, I say this... "Try reading one, you might understand the meaning of books more than you do now. If not, well...Atleast you'll have more wisdom than you did before picking up the book."
1 person likes this
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
29 Mar 09
You must have meant boon right. Bane = bad, if I'm not mistaken...
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
29 Mar 09
No problem! And welcome to myLot! :)
@ghmatt (26)
• United States
29 Mar 09
Yes, correct. My bad, I've been writing too much today and seemed to have misplaced much of my words. I am sorry for the mix up, I mean Books are the (Foundation Rather) of society. Again I am sorry for the Mix up.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 09
Reading is for sissies. That is the type of thing I would expect to hear from some moron who can't read. The people who say this are very likely the ones who's last great reading adventure probably involved a cat wearing a very large top hat. If people don't want to read that's fine with me, but don't sit there and insult me with such a caveman like response. I'm am the type of person who likes to learn and the best for me to learn is to read. I'm not like those "reading is for sissies" people who think a TV show like "jackass" is a highly valued TV show with very good educational qualities. Like you inkyuboz, I tend to be an opinionated person myself, and if you don't like the fact that I read that's fine but don't think I'm a sissy just because I can string together a sentence that makes sense and invokes feelings other than anger in someone.
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
30 Mar 09
What a great answer! I love the humor you injected (the allusion to Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat). And yeah, I read a lot too and I am proud of it. Cheers to all the readers in the world! Thanks for responding greatwolf75.
@teka44 (3420)
• Brazil
29 Mar 09
Hi inkyuboz. Congratulations for you be a reader. It is wonderful. I'm a reader too. The guys who say reading is for sissies are stupids and deserving pity because they never will learn nothing and keep their selves stupids for all the life. What a waste! The other hand is if they are really self confidences about their virilety they wouldn't use the sexuality of others to affirm theirs. Only people poor of mind do this. Keep reading and never care about who say it is wrong or a waste of time because they are ignorants and want everyone to be too. Have a nice weekend.
1 person likes this
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
29 Mar 09
Indeed they are wasting their life if they don't read at least one or two books. I think they should start reading lest they want to become one of those people who don't know anything about everything.
29 Mar 09
I think they're living in the past. The 'masculine ideal' of being big, tough and sporty is long gone - since the 1960s, at least. People who cling to stereotypes of what men and women should be need to wake up to the fact that it's 2009. We're all just 'people', not men and women any more. And that's the way it should be. Ideas are far more important than physical strength: with the latter, you can perhaps change your life; with the former you can change the world.
1 person likes this
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
29 Mar 09
Great answer! I really like that final line, it speaks volumes. Thanks a lot for responding.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
29 Mar 09
No way I think reading is for sissies! I think that reading is one of the most important things a person can do. I personally find it very attractive that a man is well educated. I also like laying on one end of the couch reading my book while my b/f lays on the other end with his. I think it compliments our vocabulary and stimulates our minds. This is not a sissy thing..lol. Maybe they say that because they aren't so good at reading.
1 person likes this
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
29 Mar 09
Right. And don't get me started on those people who say: "Reading is for losers..." I really don't want to react to those ignorant people, but sometimes they grate on my nerves.
@CRIVAS (1815)
• Canada
29 Mar 09
I think that if a guy says: "Reading is for sissies", I would have to say that not only is he uneducated, he is also ignorant. I am a women and I will have you know that women find inteligent men, to be sexy. Why you ask? Because if a guy is willing to read, it usually means that he will be willing to have an inteligent conversation without having to scratch himself during said conversation. I think that you have every right to be proud of the fact that you are a reader. I know that there are a lot of people in the world that don't get the opportunity to learn how to read and they think that the people who don't when they know how, are a waste of education. I find that I have to agree, one of the best ways to learn new things, is to read about them. I think that a man who reads craves knowledge and is worth spending time with, I also think that there are a lot of other people out in the world that agree with me. So as for the guy saying reading is for sissies, HE'S the only real sissie.
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
29 Mar 09
Another great answer! w00t. I have to agree with you on all points.
@patgalca (18355)
• Orangeville, Ontario
29 Mar 09
Anyone who says anything negative about someone is just jealous, whether it be about reading or anything else. With kids it's called bullying. My daughter was a closet reader because she didn't want the kids at school to know she liked to read. It wasn't cool. She reads a lot at home. If someone were to call me a sissie because I read I would think they are uneducated and jealous.
1 person likes this
@sweetyethot (1737)
• China
29 Mar 09
I believe in the saying 'reading makes a full man'.I love reading.It broadens my view and enrich my mind.I read literary works more.Believe it or not,I think people who dont read are shallow in one way or another.
1 person likes this
@Tushavi (2077)
• Karachi, Pakistan
29 Mar 09
those guys are mad dont hear these guys. i also face this problem. I have own 3000 Books & I read all & bought many informative Books. Many Guys tells me same likes you. so better friendship with me. ehehehehe & have a nice day.
1 person likes this
• Bahrain
29 Mar 09
they're stupid and un-intelligent, as simple as that :P lol. Everybody knows that reading expands one's horizon when it comes to knowledge, those who say stuff like that are mostly idiot potatoes that have their minds go only as far as TV shows :P
1 person likes this
@djemba (767)
• India
29 Mar 09
I defifnitely dont think that reading is for sissies as I think it takes quite a bit of focus to read a book and I dont think any man can simply sit with a book and try to read. Only few have the patience and intellect to enjoy reading books. And I think the chaacteristics of patience and intelligence are definitely the thinkgs that should be there in a man or woman for that reason. So there is no way that one can stereotype anyone on the basis of saying that if you read books then you are a sissy.
• United States
29 Mar 09
I've heard that argument from male students a few times. I try to find things that they are interested in to get them reading. I also ask them questions about things I do know they read, though they might not consider it "reading". Like a car repair manual, comic book, etc. I think some people make comments like that because they are not strong readers themselves, and it's a way to deal with it. Kind of like on Arthur when Binky Barnes always makes fun of others for getting good grades etc. Keep reading! Namaste-Anora
1 person likes this
@la_chique (1498)
29 Mar 09
those guys probably cant actually read so they cover up for it by putting others down lol. they're just jealous
1 person likes this
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
29 Mar 09
Exactly. It's tough being ignorant these days... "they're just jealous" sums it up quite nicely. LOL.
• United States
29 Mar 09
well if they say that then there calling them self sissies because they probly read everyday and dont even know it
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Mar 09
Who ever say that reading is for sissies is a dummy. Reading is great and you are right you can join in on more conversations and you can also learn a lot and know a ton just by reading things constantly so if you like to read go ahead and keep reading I would rather be a sissy then a a$$ hole. ........Great Day!
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
29 Mar 09
I would figure they lack the ability.
1 person likes this
@MagicGuy (157)
• United States
6 Apr 09
What The !!!!! Wow, are there really people(guys) that call you a sissy because you read? Maybe they are the sissies, 'cause they are afraid to read. Maybe they might learn a little something outside their 'macho' world and find out that yes, they are sissies for not reading, and dumbies too. They will never be able to stand along with YOU when you're talking about the latest greatest thing. Instead, they will be wondering how the heck you know all that stuff (whatever it is).
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
29 Mar 09
Hi inkyuboz! I think that you should keep reading! Reading is very important for everyone! Don't listen to anyone that says that it isn't because they are ignorant! They are only saying that because they are too stupid to want to read or maybe they just can't read! Reading is something that feeds the mind and you can never get enough of it no matter how much you do it! So ignore anyone who tells you different! They are the ones who will suffer in the end! Keep being proud of being a reader!
1 person likes this
• China
30 Mar 09
Well, I think the guys who say that don't understand reading very well, even they don't know how to read. I am not a knowledgeable person, so I know the dilemma that I couldn't join in a conversation which others are joining. Reading more, and more knowledge we could get. We can't experience everything, so we need to catch it from reading and other ways. We know more, we can do more things and deal with issues better. Reading is not just for sissies, it's for everyone. Everyone need it. Can the guys say they never read?
@banafs (51)
• China
10 Apr 09
I think they just don't know the read's charming.And they have their own judgement that sports is the only way to show they are 'man'.You could ignore what they said.