Equality for others means you win too. Like other sorts of winning, equality is more satisfying when you fight for it.
Laugh at yourself and allow others to laugh at you. Don’t be too proud.
Embrace social change and be wary of a fictional nostalgic past where you might have had a higher status.
Sexual consent matters.
As men we have power and privilege that women don’t have in our society. Acknowledging this doesn’t undermine our own achievements.
Be interested in things, be happy that others like them differently.
Accept things can sometimes be hopeless. When they are, cry. Ask for help.
Be slow to judge: try to imagine walking in the shoes of those less fortunate than you.
Be kind to others, especially to those with whom you disagree.
Be kind to yourself.
You’re probably a bit gay. Embrace it.
Be careful of pithy advice from old men like me
Context
Jordan Peterson has a book with 12 rules, and they seemed kind of rubbish, so I came up with my own.
Caveats
This is a work in progress. I’m happy to receive feedback.
I have no idea what I’m talking about. I mean it about rule 12.
A number of people contacted me after my last article about Jordan Peterson pointing out that I should probably read his stuff before being snarky about it. I have ordered his book and will post a review when I’ve read it.
I was thinking of heterosexual Irish men when writing this. Applicability to other kinds of men may be limited.
