Stig and Blackfoot both killed their bunnies, and that is precisely their point, I think.
But they phrased it as killing their puppies and some objected. I wonder if there would have been any objections if they'd called it killing their bunnies.
My observation is that women really don't care if a man has a puppy or not but if he does, it had better be a strong puppy and only come out in times of true crises.
Bunnies, puppies, it makes no difference. There just metaphors, anyway, for vulnerability.
You can't kill the puppy. He's always there. He can hide, though. This is what men do when they want to look tough, like they can't be hurt. Nonsense. Everyone can get hurt. Showing vulnerability requires tremendous strength. Hiding your vulnerability, i.e., "killing your puppy", is appearing strong but acting weak. If you are willing to reveal your soft spots, to take a risk that your puppy could get kicked to the curb yet again, boy, that can take a lot of guts.
Pretending your puppy is dead is a lie. It might be a good defense mechanism in the wild jungle. Maybe it will help you get laid, I don't know. But I think it sucks if you expect to be able to rely on someone in a long term relationship. By hiding your vulnerability, you are either lying to your partner or yourself. If you are lying to your partner, well she can't trust that you are who you say you are. Worse yet, you are sending her the message that you don't trust her to take care of you when it's necessary.
With some women, you really can't trust them with your puppy. If you let that yappy little monster anywhere near her fancy high heels, she might very well give him the spike. Save the puppy, ditch the high-heeled woman.
Of course, if all you ever do is show your vulnerability, you just look like a victim, like you're not capable of taking care of yourself. But I think a knowing woman wants to see if a man can heal from his wounds and come back to embrace life again. Rather than pretending he doesn't have any wounds - after all, how does she know he won't just crumble when he gets hurt? Is he hard like a rock? Or just crispy, like a cookie?
Maybe I'll invent my own allegorical personality framework based on snack foods.
SM
"If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment." Henry David Thoreau
