On Mar 27, 2008, at 1:41 PM,
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com wrote:
> Macho is an
> attitude. Tough is really difficult to break or
wear
> down. A Ford truck may project a "macho" image,
but
> when they say it's built Ford tough, they mean
the
> truck is hard to break. Virtually anybody can
act
> macho. But tough is not an image, it's real
and
> measurable. A good leather motorcycle jacket is
both
> macho and tough. A stylish leather motorcycle
jacket
> made of soft leather is macho without being tough.
You
> can't tell by the price. The stylish leather may
cost
> as much if not more than the hard leather, but if
you
> hit the road, you'll know the difference.
Now we're looking to clothes and TV commercials for
definitions? Could we get any shallower?
If you think real toughness (or even machismo) is something
you can buy at the mall, you don't know toughness (although
the advertisers sure know you).
The big ape taking on all comers ain't so tough (although he
does impress the little boys). The real tough nut is the
skinny little guy who dares to stand up to him.
That takes guts. Not the appropriate wardrobe.
What makes Marlowe or Spade or Hammer or even Brandstetter or
Paretsky and Millhone tough isn't how many thugs they can
bench press (or what they're wearing) but the mere fact
they're willing to go down those mean streets.
Courage and integrity and intelligence impress me. Your
fascination with leather? Not so much.
Kevin Burton Smith The Thrilling Detective Web Site
Celebrating 10 Years of P.I. Thrills
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