Guns, extension's of one's manhood?

[SharpsDressedMan]

Reminds me of a funny story. Once, when policing a suburban community many years ago, my partner and I entered a bar, and partner introduced me to his new girlfriend, the barmaid of the afternoon. I had recently been returned a Colt Single Action Army .45, 7.5" barrel, that had just been engraved by a friend. I also happened to have a Safariland 101 Shoulder Holster that was made for a large single action, and was carrying the gun, mostly to have it so I could show it to my colleagues and friends. Partner made the intros, then said, "Hey Greg, show her your gun". Now I don't usually even let the public know I'm armed, ever, and even though there were no other patrons in the lounge at this time, I just left it in my holster, and drew back my jacket to show the slightly-larger-than-normal revolver. Barmaids eyes widened, and she said, "Why the hell do you carry such a big gun?" I thought for a few seconds, and said, "Well, it's my belief that a man should carry a gun with a barrel as long as his own." She laughed, and then turned to Partner and said, "Hey Ric, what do you carry, a snubnose?"

 

[CraigC]

But actually shooting them, and shooting them well, requires the precise opposite of what we associate with machismo.

Excellent point! Anybody ever see the chest-thumping, ego-pumping type at the range that was able to do any more than just make a bunch of noise and punish the ceiling tiles??? I haven't.

 

[sonier]

sharpdressedman....... that made me laugh

 

[HM2PAC]

NavyLT.......

Was that a Latte with a straw in the foreground of the picture? Dude, we may have to pull your ManCard.

 

[welldoya]

Quote : "It is a silly idea, but you will see "little man syndrome" all the time. These guys are usually under 5'5'', and have something to prove to the world. They have the biggest pickup you can get, the fattest Harley, the fanciest shoes and haircut too. Their boat will be foot longer than yours with and extra 20hp on back, and they will polish their stuff obsesively."

And I have noticed that a lot of big men draw attention to themselves also, especially on gun forums. I can't count the times I've heard "I"m 6'5" and weigh 310", when it has nothing to do with what we are talking about. Who cares. Kinda creeps me out. This isn't eharmony.com and I really don't care to hear your statistics.
NavyLT, thanks for the laugh.

 

[General Geoff]

What do you think about this Freudian mindset, that guns are an extension of one's manhood(manhood being used as a euphemism)? I would think that if someone was trying to compensate for something they would buy a sportscar or something like that. I just constantly hear this idea perpetuated by ignorant people I meet, and people in the media.

You could replace guns with any expensive object that is considered superfluous by the critic. I seem to recall a woman commenting about a gentleman's expensive car being compensation for something else once, I simply asked her what she was compensating for with her diamond earrings.

She didn't really have an answer.

 

[medalguy]

Dunno. But I'll ask my daughter when she gets back from shooting her 1911.

 

[TrakHack]

If Most women were impressed by them, maybe. In my experience, women are not exactly selecting there mate base on the guns he does, or doesn't own. So I consider it just the opposite.

True, but my friend's husband did become inexplicably more attractive to me when he traded a medium-ish semi-auto for a snubnose revolver for his every day carry. The fact that he likes watching my toy poodle when I go shooting with his wife probably helps, too.

Quiet confidence, with or without a gun, tells me a man has no need to compensate for anything.

 

[Moose1995]

While I understand what the OP is saying, I disagree that someone who is buying a sportscar is making up for something when someone who buys a gun is not. Over the years, like others have said on this thread, I too have witnessed many men with the "little big man" syndrome.....or Napoleon complex. Whatever you want to call it. However, there are plenty of men out there who truly could care less about how the object portrays them and care more about the item itself. Most of my friends do not even know I have guns. I own a XD45, and a DPMS LR308. I wanted both for the firepower, not becuase they are fairly powerful weapons. I have owned a couple of the worlds fastest motorcycles. Not because I had a complex, but because I am a big man and like the more powerful bikes (in otherwords, they were more practical for ME) I owned and bred the largest breed of dog there is, not becuase they were big, but because they are absolutely amazing dogs (English Mastiffs). They make good watch and guard dogs to protect my family, yet they are completely trustworthy with my daughter. I have had several cars that were the most powerful model, simply because I like nice things, and I enjoy taking care of them. Waxing, washing, etc.... I like to know I have nice stuff because I have worked hard for it. My point is, to the OP..... how can you comment about the gun being an extension with the intent of defending people who have guns, but also make it sound like only people who have nice cars would do something like that? Just sounds a little hypocritical to me.

 

[DammitBoy]

Freud didn't say guns were used as an extention of one's manhood.

He did write that "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." in the 'General Introduction to Psychoanalysis'

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ps - my penis has gotten me into much bigger trouble than any gun I've ever owned...

 

[Dr.Rob]

This thread is going downhill faster than a greased weasel on a snowbank.

This is a firearms forum not, psychology today.