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Boys will be boys
Observation: Girls have a thing or two to learn from the lads.
As the saying goes: You can dress them up, but you can’t take them anywhere. Boys will always be boys. So what happens when you leave them out by themselves? As I’m beginning to realise, things can get more than a little rough.
When we were younger we had firm beliefs that boys and girls came from two completely separate planets. Now we’re that little bit older, I can see that maybe it was more than just a rhyme. Girls are generally seen as the more civilised species and when you’re the only girl witnessing the boys’ “bonding time” you can see how the theory of evolution came to surface.
Cowering in the corner was a product of mere necessity rather than fear as I watched nine lads, some of whom I thought I knew so well, lose all their inhibitions to a … ahem, quiet game of soccer. Any unsuspecting passerby was in urgent danger of getting hit by the flying ball. Not even ten minutes had passed before the ball had landed on the running track, which was a whole level higher than the pitch, and had whacked me on the back... which wasn’t even facing them. I wasn’t the only person in fear of sustaining minor (or major) injuries from the lads. However, far from caring, they were there to let loose.
More than one person landed flat on the ground. Unfortunately I can’t say who, as I’m bound to confidentiality, but every time it was followed with laughter. It was a phenomenon I have yet to witness in the female world. If this scenario had taken place with girls playing, I would have been surprised had a hair pulling fight not broken out. What’s the difference between us and them? They know it’s only a game.
Girls tend to focus on the fault rather than the humour. Guys find it easier to somehow exchange those few moments of pain for moments of laughter instead. We would probably leave with a few tear-stricken faces and more hurt feelings than physical injuries. Today somebody probably left wishing they’d worn a helmet, but they’ll remember it jokingly as the day someone “aimed” the ball at their head. If memories will last a lifetime, I know which memory I’d prefer to look back on.
We may be the more civilised species alright, but I wonder at what expense. Sure, they’ve barely evolved from our purely animal ancestors but if they can let loose, relax and enjoy themselves that easily; I say they’re better off. We girls could take a lesson here and remember that not all injuries, physical or otherwise, are intentional... and regardless, all wounds can heal.
So we can dress them up and still be worried they’ll embarrass us when we take them out; but from this moment onwards I will envy their “uncivilised” species because boys can always be boys.
By: Ruth Ní Bheoláin
Photo by danwaugh on Flickr.com.
