Perceptions of a “Real Man” (aka Goin’ Out 2 See “Sex and the City”)

Above: The trailer for the “Sex and the City” movie, out Friday, May 30th 2008!

It’s finally here!

The movie version of “Sex and the City” has arrived, and I’m headin’ out tonight to see it!

I didn’t watch the series when it came on HBO all those years ago. However, a few months ago, I was in eBay-mode and trying to buy DVD series to re-sell for money. I had bought the “Sex and the City” series on DVD back in December from someone on Craig’s List for $75, and was surprised to find out that it sold on eBay for $130!

So, when I saw yet another ad online for the series – this time for $45 – I bought it right away. Imagine my suprise, then, when it came to me, and it turned out to be bootleg copies!

Granted, the bootlegs looked GREAT, but I knew I couldn’t legally resell them.

I called the DVD seller, and he said he thought I knew they weren’t the original copies. He offered to give me my money back, but at the time I was in “Save Money” mode, meaning I was trying not to spend as much money going out to restaurants and movies like I had before.

And, since the DVDs worked and there were 96 episodes to watch, I figured watching the series all the way through would keep me from wanting to spend money outside the apartment. I kept the DVDs and started watching the show, figuring that it would be a decent enough distraction even if I ended up not liking it.

96 episodes and 2 complete run-throughs of the entire series later, I became a fan.

—-

So, the movie comes out today, and I took off from work just to see it. All week long my co-workers asked me why I wasn’t working on Friday, to which I replied:

“I took off so I could see the ‘Sex and the City’ movie!”

And – as has happened in the past – I got those odd looks from people, as if to say, “Geez, dude, that’s the GAYEST thing I’ve ever heard.”

And to that, I say… SCREW YOU. (Minus the exclamation point. After all, I’m classy!)

I’m sick and tired of people making fun of some of the interest I have simply because they’re not 100% masculine. You don’t know me, you don’t know my background, and what I decide to like is MY business.

But perhaps you need a little insight into my life. My Dad died when I was 9 years old, i.e. the age right before most guys start learning what being a “real man” is all about. Don’t get me wrong – my Dad did teach us about the importance of respecting women, keeping your word, and being a gentleman…

… but the REAL lessons of becoming a “man” don’t really happen until those teenage years. However, since my Dad died, I didn’t have any male influences around to take me out and do all those “manly” activities that guys with fathers and/or uncles get to have.

No, not me – instead, you know who MY influences got to be? My Mom; my Mom’s girl friends; my Aunts (since the only Uncle I had lived 4 states away), and my Grandma.  I love them all to death, and I’m not complaining in anyway – but admittedly, that’s a whole lot of girl influences…

…and VERY LITTLE guy influences.

You can imagine the affect this has on a guy’s interest while going through those oh-so important teenage development years. Sure, I still obtained what could be considered “manly” interests – listening to “hard” music (i.e. rap, rock), looking at “Playboy” magazines, watching action movies…

… but I also developed a like for what could be considered “girly” interest – listening to “soft” music (Spice Girls, *N Sync), reading the occasional issue of “Cosmo” (never bought it, but they do have interesting articles), and watching romantic comedies.

I was fortunate enough to get more of a chance to hang out with guys when I got to college, and even more fortunate during my summers between college when I’d go up to Lansdale, PA to live with my Uncle Eric, who helped me immensly in figuring out how to do more things considered ”manly”.

With that said, though, I still have some of those interest I developed all those years ago. I STILL like cheesy pop music, romantic comedies, alcoholic drinks that are considered “girly” (Cosmos, Mojitos), and shows like “Sex and the City”.

I don’t think it makes me any less of a man for liking these things. As big of a hit as “Sex and the City” was for HBO, it’s hard to imagine that the ONLY people watching it were women and gay men. CLEARLY, there had to be straight men watching it, just like there are millions of straight men who bought “The Spice Girls’” album, or order Cosmos.

I still like action movies. I still like looking at naked women. Heck, I still like having SEX with women! And having all these so-called “girlie” interest isn’t going to change the fact that I’m a MAN.

So, to all those people that think I’m crazy for having all those various interest: again, SCREW YOU.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a movie to see, a Cosmo to drink, and a date  – a WOMAN – to enjoy it with!

-Aaron P. Taylor