"Wild Man" Weekends?

[JLibourel]

Do any you remember the curious fad about 15-16 years ago for "wild man" weekends? Anybody here actually participate in one? For any who are not familiar with this phenomenon, a group of men would go to a camp in the woods under the direction of a shrink/guru type and beat tom-toms, hug, cry and and generally engage in a lot of retro '70s encounter psychobabble. Usually, there was a vaguely American Indian ambience to these things--although they would appear to have little in common with the stoicism and ferocity of real Indian braves. Somehow all this was supposed to put you in touch with your inner "wild man."

I can remember thinking at the time my idea of a real "wild man weekend" would involve a party of congenial comrades, plenty of guns and ammunition, good grub, lots of good booze and fine cigars and a plentiful contingent of decent-looking hookers.

Of course, I was single back then and a good deal lustier (and more lustful!). These days, even leaving questions of marital fidelity aside, as I sink into senile decrepitude, I surely could not do justice to such an exuberantly festive event, sad to say.

 

[redcaimen]

Originally Posted by JLibourel

Do any you remember the curious fad about 15-16 years ago for "wild man" weekends? Anybody here actually participate in one? For any who are not familiar with this phenomenon, a group of men would go to a camp in the woods under the direction of a shrink/guru type and beat tom-toms, hug, cry and and generally engage in a lot of retro '70s encounter psychobabble. Usually, there was a vaguely American Indian ambience to these things--although they would appear to have little in common with the stoicism and ferocity of real Indian braves. Somehow all this was supposed to put you in touch with your inner "wild man."

I can remember thinking at the time my idea of a real "wild man weekend" would involve a party of congenial comrades, plenty of guns and ammunition, good grub, lots of good booze and fine cigars and a plentiful contingent of decent-looking hookers.

Of course, I was single back then and a good deal lustier (and more lustful!). These days, even leaving questions of marital fidelity aside, as I sink into senile decrepitude, I surely could not do justice to such an exuberantly festive event, sad to say.

Oh, I dont know about that. If you can recognize how oddly non-masculine these "wild man" parties were, you are halfway home toward qualifying for a real wildman party. Although a request for "decent looking hookers" , while certainly understandable, is a lot like lugging along a portable generator and stereo.

 

[hobo]

I know what you're talking about. This book will help point you in the right direction towards wherever you're going http://www.amazon.com/dp/0306813769/ It's not exactly what you're talking about but I believe it discusses this phenomenon and also many similar things that you'd probably be interested in. hope that helps.

 

[crazyquik]

Sounds like a California thing.

 

[Thomas]

I'd heard about that but - like the tooth fairy - never quite believed that they actually happened. I'd think you'd have to have some real issues for that sort of thing to straighten you out.

 

[Dakota rube]

I think you're referring to the movement that is credited to Robert Bly, author of Iron John: A Book About Men. He's actually from Minnesota and there was a pretty well-established Mythopoetic Men's Movement there. I haven't heard of any chest-beating get-togethers lately.

 

[lefty]

I gave Iron John to a few of my softer friends when it first came out.

Didn't help.

lefty

 

[acidboy]

Read about that years ago, and thought that to do this was to accept the wimping of the American male.

 

[Flambeur]

Where can I sign up for the hookers and guns thing?

 

[lefty]

Originally Posted by acidicboy

Read about that years ago, and thought that to do this was to accept the wimping of the American male.

If I remember correctly it was the opposite. Men had been cut off from their fathers, grandfathers and each other and this was an attempt to teach them what to was to be a man, based on the Grimm fairy tale, Iron John. How effective it was, I can't recall.

The same thing can be accomplished by walking into a bar down by the docks dressed as Quentin Crisp would be. Order yourself a Shirley Temple and when someone laughs, turn to them and in a loud voice ask, "what's your problem, ******?"

What happens next and how you respond will teach you much about being a man.

lefty

 

[NorCal]

Sounds like you would have enjoyed my "Meat and Guns" BBQ I threw a few years back.
My then Girl friends dad was in town from Wa so I had a party, had all my friends bring their gun collection (at least those who had a gun collection) and went out to the range (read the abandoned logging road the locals have agreed to use for shooting). Spent a few happy hours target shooting and generally enjoying our selves with a variety of firearms.
Later we followed it up with a fine spread of ribs, steak, good beer, and good gin.
Alas, no hookers, just indulgent wives and girl friends.

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by JLibourel

I can remember thinking at the time my idea of a real "wild man weekend" would involve a party of congenial comrades, plenty of guns and ammunition, good grub, lots of good booze and fine cigars and a plentiful contingent of decent-looking hookers.


Jan, you really know how to present a stirring tableau!

I can remember seeing these things mocked in the popular media of the time, but never really thought they happened.

In our teens, we would often indulge in "bush parties." They usually involved a remote area, a large bonfire or two, large quantities of alcohol and pot, and the company of appropriate females. They usually ended around 3am, when a farmer would get annoyed enough to call the local peace officers to roust us out of his woodlot.

 

[Flambeur]

Originally Posted by NorCal

Sounds like you would have enjoyed my "Meat and Guns" BBQ I threw a few years back.
My then Girl friends dad was in town from Wa so I had a party, had all my friends bring their gun collection (at least those who had a gun collection) and went out to the range (read the abandoned logging road the locals have agreed to use for shooting). Spent a few happy hours target shooting and generally enjoying our selves with a variety of firearms.
Later we followed it up with a fine spread of ribs, steak, good beer, and good gin.
Alas, no hookers, just indulgent wives and girl friends.

well, I'm out.

 

[dusty]

Originally Posted by crazyquik

Sounds like a California thing.

"Californians invented the concept of life-style. This alone warrants their doom."

 

[shellshock]

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