Introduction to Dudedom

Greetings, and welcome to the place dedicated to dudes and all things dude.

Today's entry will explain the meaning of the word "dude" and clarify some of the false impressions associated with the use of term.

ANTI-DUDES

Hopefully most of you already know what a "dude" is - but nonetheless, I feel that a proper explanation would be beneficial. Many authors have sought to define and categorize the male gender - some have done so quite effectively (see intro to Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys). Based upon somewhat extensive reading on the subject, and a lifetime of BEING a male, I feel that a considerable portion of the male demographic has been either neglected and/or mistakenly placed into other categories. Such stereotypes include (but are not limited) to:

The "Man Beast": Uncouth, rough, vulgar, typically hunts and slays wild animals daily just to rub his hands in the blood and chant "I am MAN!!!" In short, a Neanderthal in modern clothes.

The "Average Joe": Middle-aged, married, 2-3 kids, hates his job, has a toy or two, watches the football game on Sundays while drinking a few Beers. Unperceptive, insensitive, dull, thick-skulled, and stubborn. The type of male who refuses to ask for directions, attempts to fix the toilet but can't put it back together, and forgets his anniversary.

The "Young Gun" - A young, muscular, arrogant male who is so in love with himself that he cannot understand why his girlfriend left him (even though the reason is that he kissed his biceps more often than her). A male that graduates to either the "Man Beast" or "Average Joe."

The "Pushover": A thin, slouched, man whose overweight wife dictates every second of his existence - down to the number of squares of toilet paper he uses. Using the excuse of "respect" for his wife and others, he is taken advantage of at work, social events, and in familial exchanges.

These types of males are NOT dudes. They are almost as anti-dude as the female gender.

DUDES: A Short Summary of Dudelike Qualities

Although rarely mentioned in modern published work, there is in fact a breed of male that transcends some of the downfalls of stereotypical males. This wonderful creation is the dude.

First, let it be said that although a female cannot BE a dude, it is possible for a female to do dudelike things. With that qualification in mind, we proceed to a summary of the essence of a dude.

When most people hear a phrase like, "he is a dude" they think of an 18 year old punk with a backwards hat, baggy jeans and a sports jersey. FALSE. First and foremost, a true dude's life centers around a balanced lifestyle. This means that while he enjoys going to a ballgame with his buddies on Friday night, he also enjoys washing the car with his kids (yes dudes can have kids), and taking his wife out to a Shakespeare play and a nice dinner. He does not tip the scales toward either the brutal/crude or the pushover/sensitive side. A dude knows when to tell a joke, when to give advise, and when to simply listen. He can carry himself at a banquet, but is not afraid to pee in the woods.

Secondly a true dude (a "Trude"???) posesses a plethora of skill. A dude seeks to develop talents and skills in many areas. This knowledge is not natural talent or ability, but rather the compilation of a lifetime of humble learning. If he lacks skill in an area, a dude has the humility to find another dude who knows and learns from him. Over time, this results in a male that has the ability to perform a variety of tasks and activities. Men with this amount and plethora of skill are often referred to as "Rennaissance Men" and often meet the criteria of dudedom.

Lastly, dudes are dedicated to being dudes. They love life, embrace their commitments, are confident in the pursuit of their goals, and live in such a way so that at the end of their lives, they look back with no regrets. In actuality, dudes are nothing more than true men - but the word "man" has become so stereotypical that it symbolizes things anti-man instead of "man." Thus, this blog is dedicated to a new breed of male: The Dude.


Dude Out.

-C.R.