(Deeply influenced by Russell’s and Mencken’s thoughts, I made an attempt to practice writing some “ philosophical”  essays. The following one is one of them. Some viewpoints are borrowed from others, which are unconventional or even provocative, so reader’s discretion is strongly advised.)

Today men no longer enjoy their paternalistic prestige as they once were; anyhow  in many fields, men still play a more predominant  role than their womenfolk, a phenomena not openly acknowledged by the men in power for fear of courting the outrage from the public. Men, in the limelight, look docile, humble and pleasant; virility seems to have lost its appeal to the gentle sex despite the universal endorsement of Viagra. Is it evolution  that has transformed men so dramatically or is it civilization that has made men appear so effeminate?

Let’s look at what a woman generally does after her beloved took his oath and entered de jure into marriage.

Once married, woman will take exhaustive measures to prevent her charming peers from making advances to her groom. In her heart, she knows that before long, man’s ardor will diminish once the novelty is worn off, so, to assert her status as the sharer of love and property, she must keep a watchful eye on her husband’s conduct, even though this vexatious behavior may infuriate him. It is a lesser evil that she and her husband have to accept in order to keep the wolf from visiting at their footstep. In most circumstances the husband will acquiesce in her annoying possessiveness as a token of love and duty. Man must take great care in his public image; and being a truthful husband and a doting father are many gentlemen’s pursuits. In this light the contract of marriage is effective in binding a man to his home.

Will a man be satisfied with having only one partner accompanying him to go through the journey of life? Multitudes of men will demur against this option. Religious leaders, ethicists and politicians will embrace this proposal; some ascetic extremists might consider it more desirable to have men castrated before they make any nuisance. So popular is the orthodox views on continence that a few men, who have lost interests in the charms of his wife and who want to find an outlet to let off his steam, are forced to seek such clandestine routes as having an amour or frequenting the pleasure place. In countries such as Holland, Japan, or America, people are more tolerant towards such masculine needs and set up some special places to meet them. The advantage of this liberality is that it at least protects the customers from unnecessary infections and unprepared extortions from the gang. In several Asian countries, according to an investigation by Reader’s Digest, thousands of girls under the age of 16 are recruited into the brothels by illegal organizations with the connivance of police. In China, the government has made continual efforts to eradicate the sex industry which has flourished simultaneously with the rapid economic development. The crackdown of “ Paradise on the Earth” in Beijing sent a shock to the whole nation. Within the recent several months, the police force have shut down dozens of similar facilities and put hundreds of prostitutes under arrest. All this speaks volumes that demand is high and supply is sufficient. So it seems that men haven’t lost their primordial instinct and many women are lining up to meet it. Here we will not discuss further what behind this phenomenon and who are at fault, as readers can find access to voluminous resources elsewhere.

This, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that most men are immoral; on the contrary, they are reliable and trustworthy in many ways, for the majority of them can’t afford to frequent those places, even though they have the wildest fancies. Many have learned well the trick to be content with what they have rather than desiring in vain those things beyond reach. If one can’t afford a large house, he can be relatively comfortable by making his small room cozy and cost efficient; if he can’t afford a car, taking bus or subway will also do. So most men can be continent if they are not surrounded with too many seducing allurements; some men are opportunists. A businessman might need to leave his wife for a long period, a seaman must stay in his ship for several months, some wives are cold towards their husbands, etc., all these situations deprive either temporarily or for a prolonged period the man of the most pleasurable experience that life has to offer. So if somebody is available, can he resist the temptations? If he falls, can he escape unscathed and come back sound to his wife? The psychological burden has tormented many a  man whether he has made a lapse or not?

Fortunately many men are able to find diversions in other accepted ways such as drinking, smoking or even gambling; some enterprising ones are lucky to have cultivated hobbies like travelling, painting, writing or photographing, which are good for the body, the mind or both. By resorting to healthy pursuits, men can elevate themselves above the animal instinct and become real gentlemen.