To think it isn't weak to cry

[TheSunIsFar]

And that it doesn’t show weakness to cry, specifically in men.

Watching a particular tv show and My BIL (who is a bit of a caveman) just said to stop crying, your showing your weak!

Who thinks crying shows weakness and who thinks it shows strength that the person is secure in themselves to show their emotions and who thinks something else...?

I personally think it shows strength!

I think a person (male or female once past toddler age) should only cry if they are hurt, physically or emotionally.
I think so many children over about 4 cry as a way of manipulation, to get their own way, and I hate when that is pandered to.
I don't think it shows weakness or strength.

No, I don’t particularly think it shows strength, or indeed weakness. I think people on television (and often in real life) have ulterior motives for crying, except in dire circumstances.

Well we have just finished watching its a wonderful life and dh was crying

I dont think its shows strength...but i dont think its weak either

I think it depends on the circumstances
I rarely cry in front of people but my mums funeral I cried- a sign of love not strength or weakness as far as I was concerned. When I am in severe physical pain my eyes water but I don’t actually cry. (My manager actually noticed this not me)

I think when people lose someone they love or are going through crisis to cry is normal most just choose to do it in private. My mums funeral just made it “real” and I couldn’t stop.

I think it just shows that a person is affected by something to the point of tears.

Some people cry more than others. Some people show anger more than others. Some people keep it all in etc.

To broadly measure crying in terms of weakness/strength is in my opinion, pretty ignorant.

We all express emotions differently.

I’m Spock when it comes to emotional crying.

I cried at work on Wednesday (in private) when a high pressure situation looked like it was going bad. I’m very much a stress crier, and feel much better after a short release.

I’m also a very sentimental crier. Reading stories on here/FB, seeing cute dogs being rescued, film endings etc etc.

So crying is neither a strong nor weak trait for me, it’s just an expression of tension. I don’t think people who are genuinely crying are particularly strong or weak.

I have a keen radar for false waterworks though. People who do that can fuck off.

Some people cry more easily than others but ti doesn't mean they are weak or manipulative. It just means they are more easily moved to tears.

I don't think it shows strength or weakness particularly. I'm not a big crier, but for example tonight the pain I'm in was so excruciating I sobbed. That's rare for me, I know times are rough when I'm like this. I watched something on tv this morning, animal sos I think, and a much loved cat was put to sleep- I cried. Hormones? Medication?
I don't think less of someone for crying though

I would say that it shows more if a lack of self control than anything.

Holding in the tears is a kind of British stiff upper lip thing.

Better out than in in my view. Who cares.

Holding it in has led to many a mental health issue.

Definitely agree with that Ttbt.

Like a PP, it depends on the circumstances. I had a situation a few weeks ago and I spent a few days crying and just feeling completely “under” the situation. When I finally grabbed a hold of myself and gave my head a shake I was able to deal with the situation, put an end to it and regain control over it. If I had done that on day 1 it would have saved a lot of silliness and unnecessary carry on.

But when my cat died it was fine to cry.

I think some people mistake crying as a fragility in a person which is nonsense. Some people show more emotion.

I actually do think that a good cry, if you are so inclined, is pretty healthy. Letting upset/sadness out helps to clear our mind and help us move forward, rather than keeping everything tucked away. Crying is an outlet. Other outlets are available.

Often TV programmes manipulate you into feeling a certain way - however apparently people who cry at TV shows, movies and books are more empathetic. I’m not sure it shows weakness or strength though

We are not allowed to cry in public. People do not know how to cope with that. So it is swallowed up to save the public from seeing it.

Anywhere else is OK. So cry your eyes out away from anyone else. It is cathartic and no one else has to deal with it. Well maybe those around you who love you. And it's OK there too.

No wonder there is so much ANXIETY doing the rounds. With due respect to those genuinely suffering.

I think it's just a thing that people do. I don't think it's strong or weak; I think it's just human.

It's kind to others to not give the appearance of being overly distressed, though, as Cathy just said, it makes people really uncomfortable - people who aren't close to you don't know how to deal. So if you can control public crying it's ok to do that.

Sometimes we can't though - I simply cannot get through a funeral, for example, though I do try to keep it under control and I also explain to people that I'm not suffering unduly, I just find it hard to stop once I've got going, and I don't go full on sobbing. If I have to I remove myself to the loos.

But if you need a cry and you're with people you should be able to trust, then go for it. Managing your emotions is up to you, and if crying is a way that you personally do that, then have at it.

I do think that this idea that men don't cry is bloody stupid though, and it prevents men from managing their emotions in a healthy way.

Haha what? No it isn’t weak to cry, actually those who cry and admit to themselves they are feeling sad are braver those who don’t. We cry for a reason - if we weren’t meant to cry, we wouldn’t have the ability to.

I think it says a hell of a lot more about the person criticising someone else for crying.

Weakness and lack of self control eh?

Breakfast

Crying isn’t the measure of bravery. Nor is the fact we are capable of it an indicator that it a purely postive thing. People are capable of lashing out violently in anger. Anger is just another emotion but there is a societal expectation we exert enough self control to not be aggressive or violent when angry.

I think so many children over about 4 cry as a way of manipulation, to get their own way, and I hate when that is pandered to.

Okay Governess 😑

I am an emotional cryer I cry if things move me people i distress, films cute things everything but I am not weak or fragile i think crying is a release I don't burst into tears at the drop of a hat but yeah seeing a cute story on facebook I will fill up and have a cry.

I think some people have a physical response to emotion that makes them cry more readily than others. So you can't really make value judgments based on whether a person is or isn't crying.

Christ it takes my breath away that anyone would view crying as lack of self control, or a form of manipulation.

I personally think crying over fake people on a tv show is weak.

Ref my previous post, I'm not doubting that certain people use it to manipulate, and I have seen instances of people lacking self control.

I just mean, as a sweeping generalisation I'm taken aback by that. I try to hold it all in as much as the next person but sometimes it takes hold.