Stuff men don’t talk about #473

[CW: maybe TMI? 🤷‍♂️]

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on what I might be able to add to the discussion on male privilege and toxic masculinity.

I think there are a lot of things we go through as boys and young men that no one really unpicks or even talks about and, from where I sit, they look an awful lot like part of the problem. Here’s a couple of fairly random thoughts on that topic.

[Photo: me circa age 13]

I’ve never been what I would call a “stereotypical guy”, a “man’s man”. I’ve always recoiled from displays of machismo, “locker room” talk, boasting over sexual “conquests” and the like, and have never felt comfortable engaging in that stuff.

DIY “Folklore” Rubber Bridge Guitar

Tutorial showing how I made a custom guitar with a rubber bridge, like the one used on Taylor Swift’s “folklore” – “Invisible String” and others. Budget DIY for under £120.