Fierce Gentlemen & Ladies,

After 85+ comments and 260,000 page views, it’s time to address the direction of the Fierce Gentleman movement.

Below are some criticisms of the Movement, and my responses.

The word “Fierce” is metrosexual or gay 

I think some reality TV show popularized this usage. I have no contact with the world of broadcast television, so I wasn’t really aware of this, and consider this Movement a recapture of the meaning of the word, just like other words such as “bitch” have been variously recaptured or redefined by other groups.

Besides, I like the word Fierce, and I chose it for a reason: it expresses precisely what I mean. (See the dictionary for what precisely it means).

And it’s my Movement. If you don’t like it, go start your own Movement.

Besides. What if I’m metrosexual or gay? Manliness and metrosexuality/homosexuality are not incompatible.

But the Movement expressly doesn’t address sexuality in any way. Whatever your sexual preference is, that’s fine with us.

The  Movement is sexist and shallow 

Probably. I am a pretty shallow person, I find myself judging those around me 97% of the time, and I’m definitely a sexist, if sexist is defined as thinking men and women are different. (I know they’re not really, but that’s what my first mental reaction says.)

So readers will inevitably find sexism and shallowness in my writing. These are human afflictions we all share. I rely on my readers to call me out on them, just as my readers rely on their friends and family to call them out on their shallowness, racism & sexism.

This Movement is about all of us holding each other accountable to a higher standard. This doesn’t make us perfect, or even better than other people. It just makes us accountable.

The Movement is classist  

I have lived a solidly upper-middle-class life. I have never really wanted for anything. )Although I have slept in my car a few times, and seen a single-digit bank account, I’ve never known true desperation.) There has always been a social or family safety net there to catch me.

Those who read past articles will discover that it is not my intention to only write to those like myself, or to exclude large groups of people, but rather to inspire and lead as many people as possible to live the best versions of themselves, whatever that may be.

So, yes, I write this site from my own bias and blindness, but what else can I do? As Ghandi said, “My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes, and I lay them both at his feet.”

The Movement is a “Yale-y circle-jerk” 

I only wish I had attended Yale and participated in circle-jerks there.

The Movement is “millennial idealism trying to mix with older rural values” 

This is my favorite critique, because it’s true.

I do have millennial idealism, and I am trying to resurrect those rural values that I think are still valuable, and meld the two together into something new and powerful. The person who wrote this called the idea “weaksauce” but I think it’s more like “awesomesauce.” I’m pretty sure this is a matter of opinion.

I always get excited when people accuse me of idealism, because I prefer idealism is to cynicism.

It requires a man of powerful courage to be an idealist, while any weakling can be cynical.

Suits don’t make the man

No, they don’t. This is a fault of the original framing of the Movement. I happen to love suits, but in my writing I myopically exclude a whole portion of the population that just doesn’t wear suits. (In fact, in my new corporate position, I don’t even wear suits anymore.)

So I’ve modified the wording in the “10 Qualities” article to reflect that a Fierce Gentleman understands that his physical presentation in the world is important, and strives to make a good first impression, no matter his rank or station.

Where are we going?

Here’s my current vision of where the Fierce Gentlemans Movement is going:

1. Lots of sharing & guest posts on this site, so we can all benefit by each other’s wisdom. 
2. Continued conversation via the email list (sign up below!), our Facebook page, and the comments on these articles.
3. In-person meetup to come to the Bay Area at some point in the future.
4. More articles on the topics suggested by reader feedback, including Fierce Fathers & Husbands, fraternal orders, how to beat procrastination, aging, integrity, financial abundance, power & vulnerability, East meets West in practical spirituality, The Fierce Ladies, and many, many more.

It’s going to be a ride. I’m glad you’re with us.