Shannon's Journal Discussion Thread, Vol. 8

[Shannon]

I'm curious to see what you'll create for the masculinity sub and whether it will meet the requirements for being built.

Talking about the subject reminded me of Duke mentioning how Maverick made him feel both masculine and sensitive at the same time. There might be something valuable to gather from that.

On a broader scale, I believe our society is currently experiencing a counter-reaction to traditional domineering masculine norms. These norms have been used not only for good but also to exploit both women and men. This exploitation has led to a fear of being taken advantage of, which i believe is why anything associated with increasing power is often labeled as "toxic masculinity."

I believe that men need to embody qualities associated with traditional masculinity, such as not getting overly caught up in emotions, pursuing goals, and challenging ourselves to grow stronger and more resilient. However, this is also an opportune time to integrate a more conscious perspective on our roles as men in the world. Perhaps looking at the masculinity from an energetic point of view, and how liberating a real masculine presence can be for yourself and others.

Furthermore, men often suffer more from divorce and loneliness, to a large part driven by that we typically haven't learned the skill to manage our emotions, seek support from friends, and maintain a strong social support system. I believe this issue is largely due to falling into stereotypes that suggest one cannot be a man if they show vulnerability or seek external support. This could also be included in the case of expanding the notion on what it means to be a man.

A real man has learned to be authentic with his emotions, suffering, and challenges, and  be able to share these with others. While women are often “hard-wired” to seek security, many also recognize the need for authentic men in their lives. Not just a man who cries constantly to show sensitivity, but one who can stay present with his pain even when looking his lover in the eyes. This capacity is generally in short supply, and I believe it is highly sought after.

Previously, I've recommended David Deida's "The Way of the Superior Man" to you, Shannon, as he addresses some of these areas, it's not a very long read and can perhaps give some additional perspectives to your research.

Lastly, I’m intrigued by another member sharing my experience of feeling like AM made them “play a part” rather than integrating the script into their own personality. I’ve read that Maverick is designed to integrate seamlessly into one’s personality. Could a similar approach in AM be beneficial?

The issue with AM6 making you feel like you are playing a part is down to it being built in 5G, which is not powerful enough to get past some people's resistance to actually making the necessary changes.  In fact, that is exactly why I started developing 6G.  Maverick is built in 5.9G, and thus is benefiting from a lot of design changes and a huge step up in power and impact towards getting the script executed.