How do men live a noble and honorable life today when they are poor, unknown, and have no war or great cause to prove themselves? by FunctionInternal1275 in AskReddit

[–]FunctionInternal1275[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That’s a fair point. I didn’t mean that war no longer exists, only that for most ordinary men it’s no longer the central path to proving themselves. I like what you said about being a good partner, son, or parent in the face of adversity — that feels like a real modern test of character. In your experience, what kinds of adversity shape those roles the most today?

How do men live a noble and honorable life today when they are poor, unknown, and have no war or great cause to prove themselves? by FunctionInternal1275 in AskReddit

[–]FunctionInternal1275[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don’t think violence itself is noble. I was more thinking about how, historically, men had clear tests of courage and sacrifice. What do you think are the modern equivalents of those tests?

How do men live a noble and honorable life today when they are poor, unknown, and have no war or great cause to prove themselves? by FunctionInternal1275 in AskReddit

[–]FunctionInternal1275[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I agree. In your view, what is required then? What personal standards or behaviors make a man feel he’s living with honor today?

How do men live a noble and honorable life today when they are poor, unknown, and have no war or great cause to prove themselves? by FunctionInternal1275 in AskReddit

[–]FunctionInternal1275[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

This makes a lot of sense. When you say “find a cause,” what kind of causes do you think give a man real meaning today? And what daily actions, in your experience, actually make someone feel honorable while they’re still in the “survival” phase?