"Drew, I can barely even begin to find the words to respond. Thankyou definitely comes to mind. I certainly don't find crying an unmanly thing (and now i'm hoping that isn't a comment in response to something in my fic - if so, I apologise)
Marathon read away - It can be easier to comment on the story as a whole anyway, and i certainly find it easier to reply to. I can be just as impatient with a good book, often even flicking to the last page if there is any worry certain characters won't survive :-)
Thankyou again for your fabulous comment. I'm very flattered, and yes - Nuke will prevail! "
Hey Dani,
Just wanted to make one thing clear...
You don' t need to apologize for anything at all. That thing that I mentioned about "real men don't cry" was not something that I felt coming from you in your fic at all. In fact, some of my favorite Nuke fic scenes are where the boys are letting their emotions out and often times crying together, and sometimes holding each other close or hugging.
Here in the states, there is this prevailing attitude that says "men are supposed to be macho and not cry, if you cry you're just a sissy." It's the kind of bullshit line that Col. Whackjob would have fed Noah if he had seen him crying, something like "be a man, men don't cry, you're such a baby, just suck it up and deal with it."
Personally, I am so sick and tired of all this macho bullshit that I see as the prevailing attitude in the American culture, although thankfully those ideals are starting to slip away, slowly but surely.
Internalizing your emotions and not letting thigs go can be extremely dangerous. My godbrother was going through a difficult time at one point, his girlfriend had just miscarried their baby, she was having further health problems, and there were other things going on to further complicate their lives. He was internalizing his emotions and not letting things go, trying to "suck it up" and "be a man" because "real men don't cry" and all the stress led to a series of panic attacks. He came very close to having a heart attack and he now has damage to his heart as a result of all this. I spent a lot of time talking with him in the days after that. I like to think that my talking with him may have helped him in at least some small way.
I'm running out of space here so I'll shut up and quit rambling.
Again, great fic, and keep up the good work!
MAY NUKE PREVAIL ALWAYS!!!!!
Drew
