m@ ✅Apr 10, 2017

Sometimes it seems like toughness is just code for self-defeating masochism:

Exercising while sick/injured?
Letting your body rest would be better

Pulled an all nighter?
Better off getting the sleep, maybe waking up early.

Pushing it to the limit every day?
Enjoy burning out.

Self imposed starvation/fasting?
Instead, don't.

Doing it on your own?
Just ask for help, no one is an island.

Show threadRobert Holmes villain
@esselfortium this is a different subject entirely, but this is one of the reasons I'm fascinated by the stereotypical male action hero archetype. Superficial strength, but actually it's just horrific weakness. The best heroes get this contradiction
Apr 10, 2017 at 1:56pmTusky
Show threadesselfortiumApr 10, 2017
@fireh9lly yeah, there's lots of character/story potential in subverting those archetypes, particularly because the concept of them as ideals is so widespread
Show threadRobert Holmes villainApr 10, 2017
@esselfortium oddly enough, Die Hard 4 (a horrible film) has one of the better encapsulations of this I've seen in an action movie - there is a scene where McClane talks about how he's always just got to DO all the McClane stuff, in a way that makes it clear it's a masochistic sickness rather than actual heroism. It feels like the first time he's ever talked about it, and that he's hurting badly from the self punishment.