My friend, who is a guy, recently broke up with his girlfriend of almost two years. He started telling me about how much he misses her and what he should have done differently. He was always an emotionally open guy, but that didn't bother me until I was stuck in a 2 hour conversation talking about his feelings.
I gave him some good advice and he thanked me for it. I told him I was happy to do it, but inside, I felt that he should have kept all of that to himself or go online where he can at least maintain anonymity. He should have swept those thoughts and emotions under the rug and kept them there.
Is it normal for me to feel that men should not talk about their feelings?
I gave him some good advice and he thanked me for it. I told him I was happy to do it, but inside, I felt that he should have kept all of that to himself or go online where he can at least maintain anonymity. He should have swept those thoughts and emotions under the rug and kept them there.
Is it normal for me to feel that men should not talk about their feelings?

Blah.
Men are more likely to commit suicide. I think one of the contributing factors to this greater rate of suicide is having little to no support network - people to talk about their feelings with, to express their fears and difficulties with. I think one of the contributing factors to this lack of support networks is... surprise surprise, people like you perpetuating this archaic notion that men should not talk about their feelings.
Most people wouldn't want to sit through 2 hours of a friend one-sidedly expressing their feelings, but most friends would rather that than have a friend collapse under the burden of emotional repression culminating in a break-down, self-harm, maybe worse. It's nice you sat there and advised him despite your prejudice against men opening up, so kudos for that. But perhaps you should revise your sexist views against men?
Seppuku knives for everyone!
Constant whining is unacceptable according to me but I guess you must be a better friend to him..
Another one of those that got either kicked off this site or just got scared off because we didn't like their opinion.
Sarcasm aside: Who wouldn't want to vent after the breakup of a long term relationship? Your friend is completely normal and you should quit thinking like that. One day tragedy is gonna hit you and I hope this way of thinking doesn't keep you from looking for comfort in your friends.
Thumbed you back up one.
And it hurts me. I'm not gonna be able to sleep tonight.
(Thanks, by the way ;-))
Men who hide their feelings are insecure in showing their true emotions whatever they may be. I guess some have been brought up to believe that not showing their true emotions makes them more of a man. I disagree with this though.
We are all very different. It is the same for women.
Some men don't need to express their feelings and that is fine and dandy for them, but I don't work that way. Sometimes I just need to vent or talk things out.
Gender shouldn't even be an issue. People are people regardless of what equipment you have under the hood. Emotions aren't just a female characteristic, they are a human characteristic.
Feelings happen whether you want them or not. If you don't express them you will suffer for it.