Tough guys

[jRuutu 2,555]

What separates a tough guy from a normal guy? Tough guys are fearless, they have a strict code of honor they are not going to break for anybody or for no reason - tough guys do not compromise, tough guys are willing to sacrifice for the greater good, tough guys send a message through their words and through their actions, and that message is: if you are eager to step up for the challenge the tough guy will be honored to answer the call.

 

"If you want to fight somebody from a sim hockey league, PM me when you are in Saskatoon, SK. You tell me where you are, I'll be there in 15-20 minutes and we'll have a fair one." (Saskatoon Tough Guy, 2014, p 10)

 

As we can see from the excerpt, a tough guy is not someone who goes after a specific individual. The tough guys are modern gladiators who you can find in specific locations, sometimes tough guys' territory covers a large space, so you can technically meet a tough guy anywhere you go. The tough guys are respectful and accommodating and they expect the same from their rival to ensure a fair and honest battle can take place - the honor code.

 

How do you become a tough guy? The tough guys are molded by their surroundings. Often the tough guys grow up in harsh conditions, for example, Saskatoon is a tiny fisherman village where every day is a battle for survival,  every day the tough guys need to prove themselves. The tough guys learn early on that in order for them to be accepted, loved, and respected they must be aggressive.  In some parts of the world aggression is the language of love and Saskatoon is notoriously aggressive. It is not unusual to walk on the unpaved forestry roads of downtown Saskatoon and find a tooth in your leather sandal, "The Saskatoon Blessing" is what they call it, good fortune in battle is to follow you if you are lucky enough to find a tooth stuck under your feet. Because of the cultural and societal differences, the tough guys are often misunderstood. The bluntness and loudness of the tough guys are frequently mistaken for rudeness and hostility when in reality the tough guy is being welcoming.

 

Should you be afraid of the tough guys? Absolutely not, as the excerpt shows the tough guys do not attack randomly or unprovoked. Before a battle between tough guys can take place certain protocols must be followed and you can also see clues, similar to life in the wild: the couple steps back taken by a ram before they go for the head-butt, a long fart by a cow, and tough guys verbal invitation, all these subtle clues are meant as a warning to those nearby - the shit is about to go down.

 

In short, tough guys play an important role in the world. Tough guys serve as reminders that courage, honor, and loyalty are valuable principles. Tough guys are the shining and guiding lights to the rest of us lost ships who sail in the dark, we should all be more like tough guys. Every work environment from a regular office to a professional simulation hockey team should have at least one tough guy.