How do you define "tough"?

Chuck Norris

Anyone who has a broken finger amputated so that he can be ready to play is tough enough, in my book.

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"Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor souls who neither enjoy much, nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."

Being tough is a matter of deeds, not words.

Mom's rump roast

Tough. What is tough?

Chuck Norris? LMFAO. Chuck Norris got his ass beat by Bruce Lee. What makes him so "tough" though?
( I know you were joking.)

Why is it that we always see movie stars, athletes, and the like as being "tough"?

What is it about man's minds that makes us think that a physical apperance makes some one tough?

What about the mother/wife that looses her husband in a horrific car accident, where here daughter is in a coma for three months with two broken legs?

She spends every possible moment at the bedside, while attending her late husband's funeral, and taking care of the other child she has.

What about the parents who have lost a son or daughter defending this great country, in a war they might not necessairly believe in?

They go on, knowing that they will never see their child again, but prasing his memory and scarifices for the rest of their lives.

What about the military? The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have seen unspeakable acts of war ranging from their best friend getting killed, to seeing mutilated bodies of the enemy, friendlies, or civilians?

Every day, these souls continue to go outside the wire, into a place where many of you would never go. Every day, these souls put their lives on the line to "locate, close with, and destroy the enemy, or repel the enemies assault by fire and close combat"(Mission of a Marine Rifle Squad). Every day, these souls know they might not be coming home; that today could be the day they die. Yet the continue to persue the mission; to protect America and her people. They continue to fight; to get shot at, blown up, see unspeakable things that damage them for life, yet they keep pushing, keep putting one foot in front of the other.

What about the Veterans? The ones that have been there, done that, seen it? Seen things that damaged them for the rest of their lives? Been injured in combat, lost a limb, lost a friend, brother, sister?

They deal with the decisions they made every day. They continue on with their lives the best way that they can.

These people are "Tough." It's sad that in todays society, we have all these actors, athletes, and other people that are labeled as "tough", but we for get about the every day person.

The parents, the widow, the Soldier, Sailor, Airmen, Marine, the veterans, that have done more and been through more than 99% of other people can possibly imagine.

We need to stop idolizing these actors and atheletes, and get back to the normal person. Back to the person who is truely "tough" because they NEED to be. Not because they are getting paid to be.

The Chuck Norris thing is a joke. Where have you been the past decade?

Obviously, you didn't read the bit that was under the Chuck Norris bit I said.

"Chuck Norris? LMFAO. Chuck Norris got his ass beat by Bruce Lee. What makes him so "tough" though?
( I know you were joking.)
"


That clear it up for ya?

Exactly. Either that or an off-the-cuff response.

If you'll note... my response and the others were relatively quick ones. We didn't wait a week to come up with a "deeper" meaning and then chastise the previous posts for being shallow.

And for mine, I tried to think of a person that perhaps a lot of this generation had not been aware of.

I don't think there's a single adult who's been alive during the past 10 years who doesn't realize what the military is or does. That's why I didn't point out the obvious.

And as a veteran of two service branches, I've seen enough shi%bags in uniform to not assume that all veterans are automatically "tough." They serve and, in many cases, make sacrifices. And I certainly appreciate it. But the words "tough" and "veteran" are not equally synonymous, in my book.

Wow. You too huh? You missed the part where I said it was a joke too.

Obviously I can't put what I think tough is without butt hurting some people.

As far as off the cuff response, or waiting a week to reply, no. I just didn't pay attention to the off topic section.

I do, however, believe that the American people need to get away from the idea that actors and athletes are Heros and they are "tough." People see this, and get it confused. Are they strong? Sure. Tough and strong are different.

I too have seen my share of sh!tbags in the military. And it's unfortunate that those people are the ones that America sees as our military.

What the majority of America doesn't see, because the news is almost always negatively influenced, are the men and women who have seen more than their fair share of death, mutilation, war, that are getting help for their PTSD issues, and are living day to day lives. Holding steady jobs.

That, again, in my opinion, is tough. Not some sports star or actor that is gettin paid to be "tough."

I give the vast majority of Americans more credit than you do to know that any toughness they see from any actor is purely entertainment, scripted, rehearsed, acting. Nothing more.

Athletes certainly show toughness- all athletes, not just pros....

But this pro took a 90 mph slapshot directly to the face and returned to play just minutes later.....

Ryan Malone Takes a Puck to the Face and Returns (Pens-Red Wings SCF 2008) - YouTube

Most baseball players would have been out for months if they ever experienced anything even remotely like this.

Mothers who gave natural birth. How 'bout those crazy guys who climb Everest or any of those high mountains? Now, there's me behind the key board. You better believe I am tough.

BTW, what brought me here is my 2010 looking for better lighting, but have been wheeling some years ago. I grew up and stopped.

Jeff

You are right I did miss that.. but then went on to wonder "Why is it that we always see movie stars, athletes, and the like as being "tough"? which lead me to believe you took it more seriously. Those people can be tough too, by your standards or otherwise. Some of us chimed in for a quick grin and you obviously take the subject more seriously, which is fine.

FWIW, I don't think anyone that we may label as tough is always tough. Everyone has a chink in their armor, a soft spot, or moment of weakness or depravity. Toughness is defined by the moment for me. Some may have many moments, others may have just one, or even none.

So that entire harangue was a "joke?" Maybe the Chuck Norris line was meant in jest. However, people who claim their entire post to be a "joke" normally don't post what they think is funny, then go on a lengthy diatribe about how previous posters are all missing the point. That's either a very poor attempt at being funny or backpedaling.

But to the topic of the thread, I'll put the kids I've seen living in burn wards and children of meth-addicted parents up next to vets living with PTSD any day of the week. Hope that doesn't "butt hurt" any veterans who disagree.

No one said anything about athletes being "heroes." The title of the thread was "tough," and Ronnie Lott was a tough football player. I don't see how one can read too much into that.

Oh, and everything I've posted in this thread? Yeah, I was just kidding...

I love it when peope say BUTT HURT. By the way, there are alot of "tough" people out there, but everyone has a breaking point or "chink inthe armor" as said before. I think just talking about how "tough " you are means you are trying to prove something, that you are trying to be tough, and are insecure about it. Tough people culd give less of a shit if you know about it or not, and will simply show you how tough they are if needed.