9/11 Question: How does it feel to cry?
 

I just typed this up, and I was going to keep it to myself, but I have to let it out. Read, enjoy, and if you want, answer. (If you don't like it, I don't care, just keep it to yourself.)


How does it feel to cry?

I don’t remember the last time I had the ability to do so. Everything will move me, but never to the point of tears. People will die around me, and nothing will swell inside my eyes. It will weigh in my heart, just as it should, along with all the other pains that I hold there, and then I go out and take other’s pain in my heart, and hold them so they don’t have to. My heart is saturated, nothing more it can hold, and yet I continue forward in my path.

How does it feel to cry?

People everywhere will tell you it is ok to cry, shed a tear once in a while. I am one of those people. Tears will bring out a great stress from your body, it’s been proven in science, it is a natural process. Why can’t I? Why am I allowed not to let out my stress as others can? Why is it that I am forced to hold all of it in? Have I built my walls too strong to show my emotions anymore? I fear that may be the truth…

How does it feel to cry?

I help others when they cry. It fills me with compassion and a light joy, knowing that their pain and anguish is seeping out of their eyes, and going back to the air, and into heaven where God himself will take it and change it into rain, a rain that is beautiful in its own right, a rain that will help life grow. Other’s pain will allow life to continue on, but my pain stays with me. Everything I have collected over the years will stay and settle into my heart, making it all the harder to beat. My problems will soon end my life.

How does it feel to cry?

Today is the 11 of September, I have just realized this now, and yet I am still not moved. I watch a sad story of a girl who remembers her father from the attacks, and the pain she goes through, and yet I am not moved. She even lets tears fall from her eyes, even though she knows that her daddy doesn’t like to see her cry, and yet I am not moved. I want to cry like her… I want to release my stress that I have collected. I want to cry… but I don’t know how anymore, my body has prevented me from doing that anymore. So I ask all of you, the ones who can cry, the ones who choose to cry, the ones blessed to cry…

How does it feel to cry?

- Mark Coutu (9/11/04)

Q: How does it feel to cry?
A: Your vision blurs slightly from the extra moisture, then you feel water trickling down your face. The sensation provides no benefit nor a disadvantage. I think it is only a mode of expression, so not being able to cry is meerly a sign you're are inherintly subtle. Nothing to worry about. It's when you can't feel happiness that you should worry.
Q: Since MC43 said he typed it up, and it was signed as being by a Mark Coutu, is MC43 Mark Coutu?

I have to disagree with this.

Everyone (excluding a tiny percentage of abnormalities) has the physical capabilities to cry. Not everyone has the psychological abilities to do so, however. It is a mode of expression, but it's a sad state when you can't express yourself in that manner.

There are tons of theories about why young guys find it hard to cry. The reasons are convoluted and no one quite agrees, but there is a general consensus that it's because of the hardened 'image' of masculinity that we've been brainwashed with in post-modern industrial Western culture. If you think crying will diminish your masculinity, you will not cry. A man's ego may be inflated but it's also the most delicate thing he's got, and he WILL do anything to protect his perceived gender role of being a tough "man," even if it means stopping a normal psychological, physiological and satisfying release [crying].

I was the same way. I've practiced numerous exercises to break down the walls that my own society built for me when I was a little boy. I allow myself to cry for some movies (they have to be pretty friggin' sad, though). I don't sob and collapse but the tears are there. Great paintings and a rare poem can bring me to tears. Any video+audio of 9/11 will make me well-up. I've come around a little so that I can cry around guys I'm close to like my father. We'll see if I'm ever able to cry in front of a woman (yeah, right!).

Hope that helped.

...iono. anyways i think 9/11 is kinda a conspiracy.
cuz you know 9/11 and 911 just happens to be the number to the police.

That's the whole reason that they chose that date to attack. They knew it would draw close upon the hearts of Americans, and it did. This attack was planned well ahead of the date it happened, not just a spur of the moment thing. They had time to work it out.

Although I still feel for the people who lost loved ones in this tragic event, I see that people dwell too much on the situation. In other websites I go to, every other topic is a 9/11 topic, and to be frank, it gets old. People start to get bitter and annoyed and that's where the 'I don't care' and lack of sympathy becomes involved. People are tired of having to dwell on it.

I cried at the point it happened, because I was watching it live on TV and couldn't help but feel a thud as each plane hit. Now, I can't cry for it because it was in the past. Most of the people involved want us to move on. And I'm willing to do that.

I don't feel a thud of sadness for the event. I was like WTF????? when it happened. (Curses for my early sleeping habits before!) Now, with the American elections coming up, I wonder if Americans would want to use this event as a factor in choosing their new president.

I find it hard to cry, even in situations where I'm supposed to. I dunno. I only cried once in my teenage life. And in front of so many girls..........

The thing about 9/11, is that I have no more tears to shed, and all I feel is bitterness when, at least in my opinion, all I see is shameless exploitation of that horrific day. I see it that way, because last year the fan fair surrounding said day was far more muted.

Plus, I think its far past time some people start to move on. It isn't healthy to dwell on a sad event every year. I mean, if I dwelled on the month of time in which I succumbed to my tumor, and subsequently lost 50% of my hearing, I'd never have even gone to college, gotten a job, or done anything remotely like pulling my life together.

But that's not to say that I hadn't shed any tears about it. In fact, I was bluesy for at least a year.

That said, I think its far past time we stop celebrating a day of horror, and that's all I have to say on the matter.

Sky Warrior Bob

I see where you're coming from adamark, but I don't necessarily agree. Then again, even I'm iffy on my OWN opinion. So, if it sounds like senseless banter...then that's probably what it is.

The last time I cried was at my father's funeral. I'm 18 now, and I was 11 when it happened. I haven't shed a tear (save for eyes watering from particularly strong wind and allergies!!!) since then. I feel what others are feeling, but I, myself, don't show my emotions by crying. It likely is because of the brainwashing we all received as children, but I would rather express myself in other means than crying. Ah hell, you probably ARE right adamark. Maybe there's somethin' wrong with me? But I'm somewhere on the page of MC43.

But the last time I cried (over 7 years ago) I felt weak. Pathetic. Anything that can be associated with those words I felt. Before that I'd cry when something typically associated with tears would come up. I think that's what did it for me, though. The weakness and vulnerability that I felt when that happened.

Then again, I don't wear my heart on my sleeve, or so much as show much expression to most people. Pretty monotonous, actually. But, that's just me. That's not from being brainwashed or whichever (I think, anyway -- since I was different in my early childhood) but from my own personal experiences.

Yeah, I think that's it.

EDIT: I do very much think we dwell on things too much. Especially death. I think that, however, is just a problem with America's culture and society. We all WILL die someday. You, me, our parents, the people you love the most, your friends -- everyone. Death is the end of life after all, right?

The problem? Americans are too worried about dying rather than living. That's why things like this stick in our minds. Christ, I've got heart disease that runs in my family, arthritis, mental disorders, and a few other things. Am I afraid to endulge in select meats? Afraid to wrestle every chance I get? Afraid to spar or practice martial arts? Nope. That's because I'm more concerned with living my life, rather than worrying about how it will end.

But that's just me.

This is where we get into questions about how individuals are shaped. Do you believe that your exact personality was determined when you were born and you will be the same person the day you die? Or do you think that society has a role in shaping who you are and what you do? (It's probably a combination with emphasis on the latter portion)

When you say "But, that's just me" I am, for some reason, not believing you. I am reading those words but thinking "You are exactly what society has trained you to be!" Even down to believing that you are your own 'individual'!

Don't mistake my anecdotes for weakness, though. I have the all-too male quality of being able to turn on and off my emotions for whatever setting I am in whether its school, work, home, whatever... But I DO turn my emotions back on. I do open up those vents; that is important.
We can cover up our feelings and wear a poker face but humans are emotional beings. I believe everything we feel takes a toll on us, whether we choose to show it or not, or even acknowledge it.

[The rest is an example of the previous sentence, you can skip it]
I don't recall which movie I saw this in, but there was a great line about the women of Sicily. Their relative had died and an American was watching the funeral. The women wore veils and all black attire and were throwing themselves onto the casket, screaming and crying and sobbing in pain and agony. The spectator to this remarked how he was unable to do such a thing. He was too used to being reserved. Perhaps, though, as a result, that is why his life was so mediocre. And also why those Sicilian women were so kind and compassionate. When something terrible happened to he [the American] would shrug it off, not let it get to him, but he would be depressed after that for months and months. His inability to let go for even a few hours had built a glass ceiling above his general attitude. He couldn't be as happy because he couldn't be sad.

I understand what you mean entirely. Especially the society bit. Are we all really that different? Probably not. But, it IS just me (even though there are MANY folks who do almost the exact same thing). It makes sense and doesn't at the same time, if you see what I mean.

I'm actually a very compassionate guy. I normally just don't show it out in the open. For isntance, if someone needs help and I don't know them, chances are I'll help them, so long as it doesn't hinder me in some great way. This is hard to explain in a reasonable manner, so try to keep an open mind in bearing with me, here. I won't walk around saying how great or caring I am, though. I just kinda...walk. Blankly.

Oh, and if I could be at my own funeral, I would not want women throwing themselves at my casket! (unless they were gorgeous and were doing so because of my beastly sexyness...heh eh, j/k)

Did I make any sense at all with this post?...

I'm back ,and I have to say, I'm feeling a little better since yesterday. See what sleep can do to you? [On a side note, yes, MC43 is Mark Coutu]

Anyway, the reason why I posted this little writing bit wasn't because I wanted all of you to debate on the reasons for crying and what not, or to feel bad about Sept. 11 again, I just thought it was ironic that I was thinking this the same day as the attacks, but let's get off that subject again, I don't want another debate on that.

The reason that I put these words down on the board was just to put my emotions out there, "wear my heart on my sleeve" as someone here had put it. I think it's important to break down once in a while, and I can't see not crying for 7 years though, I hope I'm doing the math right. I've even tried the exercises, if that's what you want to call it, but nothing works, I just can't do it. I think a better term though is I WON'T do it, because I know I can, I've done it before, but ever since 2 years ago I think, I can't seem to force any tears out. Someone said that crying makes you feel weak, belittled for a small amount of time. Isn't that what it is meant to be there for? To be weak for a just a little while?

(shrugs) All right, that's it. I just wanted to put my neck out there and put out some words from a depressed, scared little child hidden within a strong body.

I guess I don't like feeling weak or powerless in my own mind. That's likely why I haven't cried in as long as I had. I'd rather go spar or something to vent my emotions. Or write a decent poem when I'm feeling down.

Maybe that's it. I personally just don't find that spending my time crying is worthwhile. I like to practice my martial arts, sword fighting, and writing. That's likely why. I think, anyway...

Wow. Just wow. I have to say I agree with all of you in some way or another. The societal image, the wont of emotions in public. I however, do tend to show my emotions more often than most, and I tend to voice my opinion as well. I let people know how I feel, but that's probably because of all the grief counselling that I had as a kid. I was always told that it was ok to cry, ok to show your emotions to the world, though sometimes I showed the world too much (ie, angry outbursts). You see, I lost my mother when I was six, to her third battle with cancer in five years. I didn't cry then, probably because I had no idea of the ramifications of it all. I don't know why, but it didn't really hit me until the 8th grade, about five years ago. I all of a sudden realized she was gone forever, and I cried. And cried. And cried. I cried for about an hour. Since then, I have been more inclined to show my emotions, though, as many of you have said, I don't show my emotions nearly as much when i'm hangin out with the guys. I myself don't feel powerless, belittled, weakness, pathetic, anything like that at all. I just feel better when I'm done crying.

Whoops, sorry, I started wandering. Wtih 9/11, I agree with Rai Rai. It happened. It's done. We've done something about it, and we're still doing something about it, at the cost of over 1,000 american troops, as well as innocent civillians. (sorry, had to get that out of me.) Most people are tired of hearing about it. I say let the families grieve, but don't make money off of it. That is completely and utterly wrong.

I once use to cry. A lot. I got teased for it, cried more, and eventually, I guess, ran out of tears. I haven't cried in nearly six years. My eyes have wattered up at times but not beyond that. Damn middle school screwed me up in more ways than I can count...

Grave of the Fireflies makes me cry like 5 or 6 times.
Magnolia, that made me cry for about 45 minutes...

it is good to cry. but then my eyes hurt for days. :(

I personaly find it hard to cry, i havn't realy done any "real" crying in years. Most i've gottin is watery eye's. Those occasion's were like on today when i watched "The passion" for the first time. Realy moving parts(I meen EXTREAMLY moving parts) in a movie will water my eye and thats all.

In elementry school i was the one to beat up, and i cryed alot. When i entered middle school i toughened up and fuaght back. The crying stopped.

It's not that I think crying makes me weak... or I don't want to be seen crying... it's just that stuff doesn't effect me that much. When my uncle's/cousin died (different times) i fealt bad, but didn't cry. I just accepted it and moved on.

I don't beleive in fretting over something enough that it makes me cry, i beleive in getting on with my life.

As for 9/11.... how should i feal about thousands of people dying being shown on TV over and over and over agian? With people exploting this for gain... Let 9/11 rest. Stop bringing it up, it happened yes, it was horrible yes, but as a nation we need to accept it as what happened and move on.