Idk why i just thought of this but.
A lot of gyms have a "no dropping the weights" rule. After lifting a great big heavy weight several times, it's considered polite and it's often an enforced rule to use your last bit of strength to set it on the ground gently. Letting the weights slam down is lazy; putting them down slowly requires even greater physical strength than just dropping em. Another common gym rule is no screaming/no grunting. It's easy, while lifting (especially if you're emotionally stressed out in general) to make loud verbal noises while exhaling. If you're not used to intentionally being quiet while lifting, it can be a learning curve, a deliberate decision one has to make repeatedly until it becomes an easy habit.
One more example. Firefighting can be extremely destructive and requires aggression. Extrication tools like the jaws of life and chainsaws and circular saws and axes and mauls and hammers are on every fire truck. Putting a fire out to stop it from spreading to the next building often requires partially destroying the burning building very quickly. It requires swift, decisive action. You cannot save someone from a burning building by knocking gently on the door and politely waiting for an answer; you save them by punching the doorknob out with a hammer and kicking the door open and rushing in. While you're doing that, someone will be right in front of you or right behind you. Your partner will be protecting you and you will be protecting them. You will be communicating with them and the rest of the responders to make sure no effort is wasted and all that can be saved is saved as fast and efficiently as possible.
these are the two manliest kinds of things I've ever personally done. They require caring about other people and their needs. They require communication skills. They require a nuanced understanding of when to be aggressive and disregard normal social rules and when to follow the rules closely. They require physical strength. They require quick critical thinking skills and some technical knowledge.
i'm not a man. Tried to be. Didn't like it. But i know masculinity can be full of love and kindness and passion and compassion and sensitivity. And it should be.
