Parlay44 said:
Bro ...don't bro me bro
I don't like the term. It's a term male aquaintences use to create an artificial sense of male bonding. It's fake.
That a bit of a pessimistic, cynical perspective.
What makes you think the attempt at male bonding between acquaintances is always artificial and fake? Most guys are at least on some level anxious to bond with other males - just look how often the inability to make friends with other men comes up on this forum.
Even using it with guys you don't know isn't necessarily inauthentic. There's a tendency to be more critical of peers from your own society, but bro in American culture can be likened to Cambodians calling each other "bong" or brother or sister. The same is true between strangers in Nepal and I believe many other cultures.
There is something very healthy, for yourself and others, in thinking of every person you meet as a brother or sister and addressing them as such. Even if you're unsure if you fully believe in the word as it escapes your lips, it opens up the door for a connection. It lets another guy know you're not a threat and that you "come in peace," so to speak. That doesn't mean the situation can't change, but it sets the stage for a positive interaction, and if you think about it, the fact that strangers can interact so easily in modern society without violence is a pretty interesting thing.
I'm sure there are plenty of guys who just use the term to project a certain persona, but I wouldn't make the mistake of assuming everyone who uses it is being fake. I don't mean this as an insult, but I think this idea says a lot more about your perception of other people and the society around you than it does about the men using the term.
Say two guys meet, and one uses a term of endearment like "bro" even though they don't know one another and acts humble but open. On the other hand, the other guy maybe grimaces a bit but smiles and say what's up, but inside he's thinking, "Wow, this guy doesn't even know me. What a fucking chump." Or maybe makes an offhand comment to his buddy when the other guy is out of earshot, and while he acts friendly enough on the outside is still feeling hostile and closed off inside.
Who is the antisocial one? Which one is being fake?
Aliblahba said:
Bro has become a gay term. ie. :
"Bromance"
"Brojob"
Brah is even worse. It sounds like annoying thing women use to protect their titties. Do not use either term.
You of all people, Ali. You won't catch me saying Brojob or Bromance, but I'm not going to stop using a term I've used for maybe 20 years because the new cool kids have decided it's uncool.
