of this consensus. The particular blog in question reasoned women like being the pretty one in a relationship (agreed), and since most women are already insecure about their bodies (agreed), they want a man who isn’t too sculpted otherwise he’ll make them more insecure. It’s the equivalent of me being insecure about my IQ so I date girl with an IQ of 80 because her stupidity makes me look like Steve Jobs (without the turtleneck). See the problem? Rather than try to make myself smarter or date someone who will challenge me to be smarter or (and perhaps this is the best option) simply resolve my insecurity, I date an idiot who lets me think, “At least I’m not that stupid.” And that’s what this blog reasoned: avoid self-evaluation, sigh a “can’t even,” and date a dad bod. It’s complacent, but understandable. After all, no one wants to be around a sculpted and morally perfect Superman who shows how immoral they are. People want crime fighters with crumbling personal lives. I know I do. They make me think I have life somewhat together. But Superman does the opposite, and that’s why most people hate him.
Take the main characters off the recent Avengers movies. Thor brags on his supposed divinity any chance he gets, Captain America moralizes like a hipster with the memories of a WWII vet, Iron Man showboats, the Hulk emotionally isolates himself from others, and Black Widow is heartless. Hawkeye is the only normal one
brags on his supposed divinity any chance he gets, Captain America moralizes like a hipster with the memories of a WWII vet, Iron Man showboats, the Hulk emotionally isolates himself from others, and Black Widow is heartless. Hawkeye is the only normal one (But he’s probably the least popular of them all. Compared to a Norse god and billionaire, who really wants to be a human Legolas—which is really just a clean-shaven version of the guys off Duck Dynasty?) Superman on the other hand embodies moral perfection. He’s hard working, gentle, and puts others before himself. He shows people how good they can be, and probably should be. That’s the point behind Superman. When they see him, people are supposed to want to be like him. He’s meant to inspire. Like Russell Crowe eloquently expresses in Man of Steel, Superman’s goodness offers an example of how to live. But by doing that, Superman shows everyone how good they aren’t.
And who is he to tell me how to live? He’s Superman. I can’t stop a meteor from hitting the earth, let alone bench-press 225 pounds. And if girls like a guy with a beer gut and flabby arms, well I’ll ditch the weights and find a girl with an eighty-point IQ.