Stephen+M's+Op-Ed+Article



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I get it. I really do. Casual, meaningless, emotionless expressions of pent up sexual urges in the form of hot, steamy, passionate touch. You are superhuman. To be in such control of your emotions to a point where you can block out any feelings which will get in the way of your productive, soon to be successful life; it is remarkable.

And so the stereotype goes: Heartless boy with animal instincts and primitive motives enjoys the moments of temporary lust and then moves on in his life, indifferent to the feelings that the typical teenage female will produce. My heart goes out to those females, I am sorry you were hurt that way and I truly hope you have the support of friends and family.

I am here, though, to speak for the young men that are human; the ones who have no control over who they fall for, hopelessly. Thankfully, I have not fallen victim to such pain. I have not been dragged across the embers; I have not been forced across the coals. So ask me why this tugs at my moral fibers. I will tell you it is because I look around and I see my friends torn apart as the pain of indifference towards them slowly deteriorates their mental and physical state.

The pain of being hated is awful, but the pain of not being cared for is far worse. It is near impossible to hide this pain, but what is one to do when their society tells them that they can’t express this emotion? It is not socially acceptable for men to cry in public. Society has deemed females as those with fragile emotional states, and that is sickening, there is no doubt about that. I have met many strong willed young women, many more stable than myself, undoubtedly. But look into the eyes of those boys who have endured the pain of loneliness, misunderstanding, and helplessness and you will want to rid society of these stereotypes as well. Let them show their pain, and let them feel no shame for being hurt by a cold-hearted female. Let them find support.

It is a pain that arises often from the harmful practice of hooking up, and I am truly sorry for my friends and other males who are victims of their feelings and succumb to the “ill fate” of becoming emotionally involved.