Let's do something gentlemanly every day!

[Whitmore]

Folks,

I've been thinking a lot about my life lately. And pretty much every aspect of it is blessed - there's a wife, there's a family, there's friends, there's enough income to pay the rent, feed the dog and buy shaving nonsense. It's all pretty good.

Time to give good old karma a pat on the back and improve myself - step by step. So for a couple of weeks now I've done what I'd consider a couple of "good deeds" every day. Nothing fancy, I don't talk about it except in this anonymous environment. It's about making me feel better, not look better.

I visited the annoying old lady living two doors down in hospital and brought her some cheap flowers. I spent a couple of minutes repairing my friend's bike. I brought unused clothes to the local homeless youth project and finally managed to invite my widowed aunt for a weekend.

If you're interested - join me in a month, a quarter or a year of getting back that boy scout feeling. Give your seat to a mother-to-be, hold doors open, carry someone's bag. Be a gentleman and sleep better at night.

Anybody interested?

 

[beyboo]

Have you been visiting the art of manliness website. This article rocks !

 

[the beav]

If you're interested - join me in a month, a quarter or a year of getting back that boy scout feeling. Give your seat to a mother-to-be, hold doors open, carry someone's bag. Be a gentleman and sleep better at night.

Anybody interested?

Hmmmm. This thread has been posted for 36 hours and only got 50+ looks and one response.

So my opinion to your question of "Anyone interested?" is: Apparently not, as everyone is too busy preening themselves....what you'll discover is that most participants' concept of gentlemenly conduct is actually self-centred towards pampering themselves by "recaptur(ing)...forgotten pleasures" a la here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=51152

And in a way, if that's not a condemnation of what constitutes "gentlemenly conduct", then I don't know what is...

 

[Emmett]

I'm in. Of course, I've been holed up at my desk working a lot lately but I'll be sure to get out of the house at least once a day and do something nice just for the heck of it.

 

[paulboeck]

Just saw this for the first time and I'm in too. It'll be a bit of a challenge for an introvert like me, but I think it'll be good for me. Thanks for the challenge Whitmore.

 

[Douglasj]

Nothing fancy, I don't talk about it except in this anonymous environment. It's about making me feel better, not look better.

Not going to go a bunch into it for this reason but I have been with you for awhile, after 18 years at various levels of scouting some habits are hard to kick. Holding doors is pretty common in the places in Canada I have lived so that is second nature. Coming on a year now I have been donating 10% of my food budget to the food bank. I haven't volunteered in a long time but that is because I have very little free time as it is.

Sometimes it hard to not get caught up in your worries and life, but small donations of time, money and concern can make huge differences in another's life. It doesn't take much to make a difference but it's a lot of work to care.

 

[Monkeydad]

Folks,

I've been thinking a lot about my life lately. And pretty much every aspect of it is blessed - there's a wife, there's a family, there's friends, there's enough income to pay the rent, feed the dog and buy shaving nonsense. It's all pretty good.

Time to give good old karma a pat on the back and improve myself - step by step. So for a couple of weeks now I've done what I'd consider a couple of "good deeds" every day. Nothing fancy, I don't talk about it except in this anonymous environment. It's about making me feel better, not look better.

I visited the annoying old lady living two doors down in hospital and brought her some cheap flowers. I spent a couple of minutes repairing my friend's bike. I brought unused clothes to the local homeless youth project and finally managed to invite my widowed aunt for a weekend.

If you're interested - join me in a month, a quarter or a year of getting back that boy scout feeling. Give your seat to a mother-to-be, hold doors open, carry someone's bag. Be a gentleman and sleep better at night.

Anybody interested?

I do it daily without thinking. My wife will even brag about it.

 

[luvmysuper]

Hmmmm. This thread has been posted for 36 hours and only got 50+ looks and one response.

So my opinion to your question of "Anyone interested?" is: Apparently not, as everyone is too busy preening themselves....what you'll discover is that most participants' concept of gentlemenly conduct is actually self-centred towards pampering themselves by "recaptur(ing)...forgotten pleasures" la here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=51152

And in a way, if that's not a condemnation of what constitutes "gentlemenly conduct", then I don't know what is...

I take exception to your comments, sir.
The post you reference is about the resurgence of manly rituals, the chief amongst which we speak here is wetshaving. It's a wetshaving forum afterall.
The post was not meant to encourage the open and reported gentlemanly behavior as listed in the OP.

Another reference could have been Thunderballs post about "doing something nice"

Some of the folks on B&B I know more than others, and some I don't know at all. But those I am familiar with give of their time and of their pocketbook quite freely.

Perhaps the real reason there was less of a response to the OP, despite the numerous looks, is that most of the people here are already doing those sorts of things on a daily basis, and like real gentlemen, choose not to brag about it, but to sally forth uncongratulated.

Not to speak negatively of the OP. I find it admirable that he is doing those things, and I congratulate him on his doing so. Failure to make a post that you will, or are does not mean that others aren't doing so as well.

Just my opinion.

 

[Sue]

Everyone should be 'in' on this one. Giving is not difficult and doesn't have to cost a lot. What you receive is more than you gave.
Sue

 

[the beav]

I take exception to your comments, sir.

Just my opinion.

Hey, no problem. I thought that writing it that way would bring out some kind of reaction. I agree with most of what you said. What I do want to point out is the different response between two different posts--one entitled "manly rituals" and this one, "gentlemanly actions", as it seems that both would generate some interesting discussion.

I remember when the outstanding "manly rituals" was written. Lots of responses then, with around forty of them in the same 36 hours as I commented on this one. It was so good that it was nominated to become a sticky.

Why the difference in the two responses? Because I think that the first one--as good as it is--is largely based on doing something for yourself, and this one is based on doing something for others. And because people are basically self-interested (T. Hobbes), the former unfortunately trumps the latter.

I have no doubt here that many members do things for others and don't blow their horn about it. All I'm asking for is a little introspection on the topic, and for us to examine why this thread almost died an obscure death.

 

[thunderball]

Folks,

I've been thinking a lot about my life lately. And pretty much every aspect of it is blessed - there's a wife, there's a family, there's friends, there's enough income to pay the rent, feed the dog and buy shaving nonsense. It's all pretty good.

Time to give good old karma a pat on the back and improve myself - step by step. So for a couple of weeks now I've done what I'd consider a couple of "good deeds" every day. Nothing fancy, I don't talk about it except in this anonymous environment. It's about making me feel better, not look better.

I visited the annoying old lady living two doors down in hospital and brought her some cheap flowers. I spent a couple of minutes repairing my friend's bike. I brought unused clothes to the local homeless youth project and finally managed to invite my widowed aunt for a weekend.

If you're interested - join me in a month, a quarter or a year of getting back that boy scout feeling. Give your seat to a mother-to-be, hold doors open, carry someone's bag. Be a gentleman and sleep better at night.

Anybody interested?

Heck ya! You can also turn your good deeds into a pretty stylin' shave kit too if you're keen :

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=108092

 

[Stubblefield]

I'm pretty courteous as it is, but I'm going to be working on driving the speed limit and letting the other driver go first.

 

[luvmysuper]

Hey, no problem. I thought that writing it that way would bring out some kind of reaction. I agree with most of what you said. What I do want to point out is the different response between two different posts--one entitled "manly rituals" and this one, "gentlemanly actions", as it seems that both would generate some interesting discussion.

I remember when the outstanding "manly rituals" was written. Lots of responses then, with around forty of them in the same 36 hours as I commented on this one. It was so good that it was nominated to become a sticky.

Why the difference in the two responses? Because I think that the first one--as good as it is--is largely based on doing something for yourself, and this one is based on doing something for others. And because people are basically self-interested (T. Hobbes), the former unfortunately trumps the latter.

I have no doubt here that many members do things for others and don't blow their horn about it. All I'm asking for is a little introspection on the topic, and for us to examine why this thread almost died an obscure death.

I appreciate your perspective on it, and can see your point.
I actually read the post and didn't put anything in, because I would feel "funny" to post that I'm already doing those things.
I'm not sure if the world is less kind in general, or if you just get a bit curmudgeonly as you get older, but every time I think I'm ready to give up on people, I witness someone doing something completely selfless and amazing.
I'm a believer that, in general, people are good and will do the right thing.
There are, of course, exceptions to every rule.
Have a great weekend.

 

[ricardo9505]

I just came across this. As my dad taught me, these are the rules, NEVER the exception. Mindfulness.
I teach that now to my daughter. do volunteer work, be an active citizen, help your community. (Growing up in the Catholic church really embedded charity work for us, my old man is retired and still volunteers at a hospital)

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

This is a great idea, to challenge all of us to make a difference in a helpful way. My nature is one of having the helpful smile and a willingness to assist. I drove by a guy just last week who was standing over the upraised hood of a VERY old and beat up jeep. I did a u-turn and pulled up in front of him. As I was walking back to the jeep I could smell gas - engine was flooded. Anybody remember when it was possible to flood an engine that had a carburetor? I asked if I could give him a lift to a service station or did he need me to call a tow truck. The guy looked at me and was struck a bit that someone pulled over. He actually couldn't believe it but refused help saying he just needed to let the jeep sit there a while and it would start up. It made his day and I can tell you it made my day reaching out to another in need. Try it, the habit is addicting!

 

[oc_in_fw]

but every time I think I'm ready to give up on people, I witness someone doing something completely selfless and amazing.

Same here. I was listening to AM radio, and they had a young man on who graduated from Harvard or Yale. He has a muscular disorder and requires constant assistance. For some reason, I think it was money, he wouldn't have that assistance at school. He posted an ad on a bulletin board, and had eleven freshmen volunteer to be his assistant. For four years, these 11 "kids" rotated duties, which included waking up every two hours to rotate him in bed. They could have been partying and chasing skirts, but the decided to do something good. I was blown away.

 

[Walker]

I love these old threads especially when i saw Sue's post. Never knew her personally but i always loved her posts. Such a nice lady.

 

[oc_in_fw]

I love these old threads especially when i saw Sue's post. Never knew her personally but i always loved her posts. Such a nice lady.

Wow, it has been a crazy day at work, just catching up here during smoke breaks. I saw her pic and it didn't even dawn on me at the time

 

[Whitmore]

Wow, this is my thread! From three years ago. How weird - so much has happened. I'm a dad now, wondering if my son will keep my shaving gear after I'm gone...

 

[Walker]

Wow, this is my thread! From three years ago. How weird - so much has happened. I'm a dad now, wondering if my son will keep my shaving gear after I'm gone...

I have my Grandfathers DE razor so if he's interested in that kind of thing i'll bet he will. Seems like the older you get the more you want to hold on to your families items just to remember them by. That's me anyway.