Men's Group

I considered suicide in HS, and many times since.
Part of it is depression, but I got that depression because I was different, and boys are taught from a V E R Y young age, that anyone who isn't macho enough is to be tormented.

I didn't know I was bi for a very long time, so that didn't factor into it.

I was raised to be respectful to girls, and people in general.

That meant that I missed out on alot of the typical "boys stuff". I missed the Balance (but I rant about that on another thread)

People, fathers who are assholes in general, teach their sons to be brutal to anyone who doesn't conform even a little, and as hellish as my pre-pubescant years were, my adolescence could have been worse.

For assorted reasons I had grown a thicker hide (not as thick as now, but that's age and cynicism) and avoided people. I also had three very good friends and BBSes (pre-internet) to hide in.

I can only imagine the living hell, and how much it's gotten WORSE in these last 20 years.

These boys are victims of being boys.
Much as I hate to use the term, they are victims of the patriarchy the feminists are constantly banging on about. They are victims of this stupid, macho culture we live in where boys must all submit to the pack alpha, become alpha or die.

Some of that is pure lizard brain stuff. With so much testosterone and hormones flooding the pubescent system it's not surprising we tend to resort to type.

The message these boys here everywhere, not as importantly on TV from from other men and boys, is "If you can't be a man, don't be!"

As twisted as it sounds, women and girls have more options.
Girls are utterly vicious to each other, but girls grow up learning how to be emotionally manipulative. Boys don't. They aren't prepared for the kind of vicious assaults they can receive from other small-minded males. Men have rules for fighting, and when those rules are broken, the results can be devastating to those unprepared.

How many of these poor boys who kill themselves every year were heart broken, or christian and told being teh gay is a mortal sin?

this won't ever stop until we change what we tell our young boys, and support them, and love them unconditionally, and make sure they understand that. They can be whoever they want without hurting others, or killing themselves.

but that's just me, waht do I know.