Is Crying Acceptable?

[Liquid]

Is crying something which is accepted by society? Is it a sign of weakness, or is it a sign of true strength and transparency?

The reason I ask is because I just cried. Well, that's a lie. I almost did. I willfully stopped and held it in. I thought, "What's the point? Nobody can hear it, so what does it prove?". Am I right? Does crying only achieve something if it's done in front of someone else?

Despite my cheeky, chirpy and game-for-a-laugh personality, I am very sensitive, deeply emotional and easily upset. I do find crying is a a release, because even though I can be pretty direct and even though I am honest, I generally do not show my negative emotions. It bottles up, and much like a steam boiler, sometimes you just need to let it off. But why have I restrained myself this particular time?

In my own opinion and experiences, it is okay for women to cry in front of women; for women to cry in front of men; for men to cry in front of women; but not for men to cry in front of women. I personally have not had pleasant experiences when letting it all out in front of a female friend. They've always found it quite awkward and surprising. Should this be so? I completely disagree with it.

Anyway, are you a wailer? What are your thoughts on the issue?

 

[Encyclopedia]

If you feel the need to cry then cry. Don't worry about silly and, in my opinion, wrong social norms. Crying can be such a release sometimes. I wish I could more easily, but it's usualy really hard for me even if I'm really sad.

 

[Terronium-12]

Suppressing emotions can often lead to a much bigger problem, i.e. depression. If you're going to cry, cry, to hell with what anyone else thinks.

If someone is uncomfortable with you being a human being and actually expressing emotions then tell them to deal with it. It's one thing to be someone another can look up to because they're strong, but it's another thing when you can't even be honest with yourself because you're too concerned with someone else's perception of you.

Again, if necessary, let it all out.

 

[Dan]

I do think people need to be more accepting of crying. If a friend ever needs a shoulder to cry on, you will surely bet it's my shoulder. What I don't like is, that its so difficult for men to show their emotions in public without being called a homophobic slur. I think it should be acceptable for everyone to display their emotions without fear of being criticized. Crying is a natural thing. It can be very beneficial for someone to just let it all out. If you hold back your emotions, you just feel worse and worse until you reach a breaking point-which can be embarrassing if in public.

 

[Aquarelle]

I very, very rarely cry and if I do it will only be one or two tears. So I can't say I've ever felt uncomfortable crying in the company of others.

Do I think less of someone who does cry? of course not. In fact not until I read this thread did I even know this was a thing.

Cry your heart out and talk to people to vent your emotions or as T-12 has said it WILL lead to more severe issues.

 

[Joel]

It's pretty clear that society in general frowns upon men crying, it doesn't fit the stoic manly breadwinner image that we're supposed to aspire too. I don't often cry, it just isn't really my response to things. However, I feel like that's perhaps more of a learned behaviour. I used to cry a fair bit when I was younger and got picked on for it, so perhaps that'sf why I don't cry much any more. I cry less about my own emotional pain and more about other people's pain. When I broke up with my ex I saw how much pain I was putting her through and I couldn't stop myself from crying. That's usually the biggest thing that can make me cry, is knowing that I've caused someone serious emotional pain. Other than that, I cry when my dog dies or a close relative/family friend dies, but not too much happens in day to day life that causes me to cry.

That being said, I also know I've had a very fortunate life. I live in a very safe part of one of the safest countries in the world, have two supportive, loving, and married parents, have a great relationship with my brother, I have a good education, and it all adds up to a head start to my late teens/early 20's that most people don't get. I truly have had a pretty damn lucky childhood. As I've grown older and seen that perspective, it's hard for me to be too upset about mundane stuff in my life when the worst points in my life are nothing compared to some of my friends, let alone people from less developed parts of the world. That isn't to say that I don't think anyone in the first world is allowed to be upset, but for me personally with my perspective on how fortunate I am it's hard for me to cry about much. However, I'm also generally not an emotionally charged person. Whether that's just who I am, or a learned behaviour from getting picked on for crying in school, I don't know.

 

[W3H5]

Ever read the classics? Real men were always crying over this or that during mythology. I hear Perseus was a real cry-a-baby.

I don't really do it myself but I imagine it's down to my meds making me a bit stoic and unable to emote.

 

[Slash]

I almost never cry. I don't view it as a sign of weakness but when someone close to me cries I often feel terrible.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

It is acceptable, but unless you are with true friends it can make for very awkward situations. In an ideal world nobody would make a judgement, but that world doesn't exist and everyone will obviously have their own opinions on the matter... not that you should let what others think dictate how you deal with strong emotions.

I haven't cried much since I was a little lad, but when I do feel the need to cry, I do it alone, in private. That doesn't mean to say that I don't discuss emotional subjects openly with my girlfriend, just that when I do I like to be as clear-headed as possible. Get the emotional energy out, and then focus on the cause.

I'm quite old-fashioned in thinking that there is a time and place for tears, somewhere where you can feel free to really let everything out without fear of judgement stifling you. Once that is out of the way, you are in a better position to deal with the issue causing the emotions.

 

[Lizard]

I rarely cry but when I need to I usually go somewhere private and stop myself until said moments.

But there isn't that much that makes me cry except a few times when I was depressed severely, when someone I knew died and I almost always cry when I listen, watch or read personal accounts of the First World War. Nobody deserved what they went through it was like taking war and then adding the worst posible version of hell you could. I mean what sort of thing drives people to purposely try and get their foot shot off just so they could go home? (Yes that really happened.)

 

[TB]

I'm not an uber-manly man. Hell, some days I'm only half the man I used to be. Even so, I seldom cry. At my brother's funeral and surrounded by his friends that were crying, nothing. My wife sobbing at hearing our son had CF? Nope.

I certainly don't see crying as a sign of weakness, provided it's not a guy crying about something stupid like the restaurant having he wrong kind of cheese for his burger. Suck it up, big guy.

If you feel like crying, do it. If anyone has a problem with it, 🤬 'em. If a lady wants to console you, get her number.

 

[Antonisbob]

I never do, I don't think I can.. no movie or "tragedy" has made me before, & when I get hurt I usually cuss a lot, but no tears.

 

[Pupik]

I always look at the example of Ed Muskie: Crying (or the appearance thereof) ruined his presidential aspirations. Although we later found out that he was completely set-up by Nixon's thugs, he went to bat to uphold his wife's integrity. That was in 1972...I can't help but wonder if we'd probably be okay with it as a society, or even supportive of it, nowadays.

Look at Ayrton Senna, he was crying when he won his first title in 1988. Michael Jordan, when he helped win his first NBA title in 1991. Both were at the peak of the mountain, so it was "okay". Emotion makes things more interesting in a world of immediate answers, press releases, plastic facades, and scripted discussion.

I've lost loved ones. It doesn't make sense at the time, and I'm stoic. Later on, I'm sad...something hits me later on. Now that I have kids, I sometimes think about how :censored:ed up things can be in the world, and that might even shed a tear because I'm kind of powerless in the big machine of life. That's something I never expected would come out of fatherhood, to be honest.

I think we've learned that it's probably better to have a rare good cry, than go off the deep end and emotionally shatter or have a mental breakdown. I'm not saying everyone's like this, we have our emotions in healthy doses at the times we need them, I suppose. I've got to admit though, laughing oneself to tears is one of those rare moments in life that are quite awesome.

 

[W3H5]

Actually, thinking back to the last few months of last year, I was really pretty ill and was having manic episodes during a certain class with some kids who I really liked; my best class.

I used to crack little jokes and poke fun of the kids in a friendly way to get them giggling but when they started, I did, and would have leave to room because I'd be in hysterics. I often shed tears at those times but not the kind of sadness tears most people are talking about here.

 

[Snake1405]

I thought that this was a thread to talk about (cry) GT6 and the engine sounds, damage and standard cars

 

[djinline]

The last time I really cried was well over 7 years ago. I've always tried to think stuff very logically, systematically and not to give emotions much place in my mind. I guess that's why I eventually got so depressed and numb, suppressing my own emotions (joy being the easiest emotion to reveal, I never really try to show my anger to anyone). It leaves me with kind of a hollow feeling but I think I can live with it.

 

[W3H5]

I guess that's why I eventually got so depressed and numb, suppressing my own emotions (joy being the easiest emotion to reveal, I never really try to show my anger to anyone). It leaves me with kind of a hollow feeling but I think I can live with it.

I was like this, but then I realised that the universe has a natural balance which is self-maintaining. If one learn to observe this balance and live in-tune with it then it is much easier to understand emotions and how to deal with/ express them.

/Deep

 

[ranhammerR34]

To answer your question... in my opinion... yes. Its acceptable to me because I have cried. Whether it was my both of my grandad's deaths, or losing a close friend to an auto accident, sometimes you have to cry just to move on with life. I cried when my first girlfriend dumped me, and the last girl I was with as well. I am emotional guy, I guess. Its better than bottling it up and then later, having a damn nervous breakdown.

 

[djinline]

I was like this, but then I realised that the universe has a natural balance which is self-maintaining. If one learn to observe this balance and live in-tune with it then it is much easier to understand emotions and how to deal with/ express them.

/Deep

I really would struggle to even convince myself to what you just wrote there, whereas I can easily tell myself to conceal emotions. I'm at the point where I just don't believe in supernatural mumbo-jumbo trying to make me feel better.

 

[W3H5]

It's not super-natural, just science. Think about thermodynamics of energy transfer in general. Balance. The emotions we fell, after all, are just the products of chemicals emitted by our brain in certain circumstances.

 

[djinline]

Could this be a sign of a chemical imbalance then? I never sought for any medical help as I feel it doesn't disrupt my everyday life too badly and I don't like the idea of using drugs which alter my mood purposely, even uncontrollably.

Also I don't want anyone to think there is something wrong with me, that would cause worry and I don't want that. However, I still think crying is very acceptable and one should not fear to show sadness when it's time to do so.

 

[nobuffalo]

Not in baseball.

 

[Daniel]

Ever read the classics? Real men were always crying over this or that during mythology. I hear Perseus was a real cry-a-baby.

Apparenly so was Johnny Depp.

 

[W3H5]

But Jonny Deep is apparently a genuinely nice guy. I'm not keen on him personally but all the articles I've read including him have spoken very highly of him.

Oh my, you've gone blue. WTF?

 

[Daniel]

Oh my, you've gone blue. WTF?

My year ran out so I'm going to be getting another year in a day or two 👍

 

[Danny]

No, it's not acceptable. Whether they're 5 or 50, It's emotional blackmail. Personal opinion, obviously.

 

[250 GTO]

In answer to the thread title.

Only if youre, you know, human.

Everybody cries at some point. Some people do so more often than others. Everybody has their own way of expressing themselves. Ofcourse some people take it to the extreme and cry at every little thing, happy or sad. But isn't the the case with a lot of emotionel expressions (laughing, yelling, anger etc.)?

 

[The Bman]

Crying should be acceptable as it's an emotion that all humans have. Too bad that today's world doesn't allow it as it views crying as a sign of weakness and immaturity.

 

[Dean]

To me, it's only human to cry. I think it's looked down upon here, but I don't know for sure.

 

[TheCracker]

It's an emotional release, keeping it in really doesn't do you any good. If you feel like a cry, have a cry - just don't use it as an emotional weapon against someone or feel like you should be crying because you are in a situation where people are expected to cry.