I want to tackle this from a few angles.

First, I'll give you that western paradigm of masculinity does make it likely that a male asking for help will make you look weak. However, I'd drive in even harder. If you are struggling, are you "already weak". You lack the capability and resources to easily resolve the challenge at hand. All you are doing is hiding your weakness. You are bluffing. You are being the guy who seems all stable on the surface until, SNAP, he's some unreliable flaky shit face who can't take the pressure.

You're not being strong. You're not being helpful. You're being brittle. You're setting yourself, and those who depend on you up for a sudden, surprising failure.

Second, I'd say that the western paradigm of masculinity does actually provide room to maneuver. Actually -asking- for help is yes... a bit dodgy. But complaining (ie, sharing your challenges) is absolutely in the cards. And there's plenty of space for men to be good friends and supporters for other men, to help them through challenges, even if you do not ask for help. The 'unexpected save/help from the initially non-committal friend' is a common trope. Being the guy who helps out is absolutely part of our common western culture.

Finally, I don't want to tear down the western paradigm of masculinity. I hardly thinking adding the attribute "be willing to ask for help when the situation demands it" is tearing down. If anything it's building up.

> If you are struggling, are you "already weak". You lack the capability and resources to easily resolve the challenge at hand. All you are doing is hiding your weakness. You are bluffing. You are being the guy who seems all stable on the surface until, SNAP, he's some unreliable flaky shit face who can't take the pressure.

> You're not being strong. You're not being helpful. You're being brittle. You're setting yourself, and those who depend on you up for a sudden, surprising failure.

Not convinced. "Fake it till you make it" is pretty masculine. So is noble failure against overwhelming odds. Someone who needs help and doesn't ask for it may well be held in higher regard than someone who doesn't need help and ask for it.

> And there's plenty of space for men to be good friends and supporters for other men, to help them through challenges, even if you do not ask for help. The 'unexpected save/help from the initially non-committal friend' is a common trope. Being the guy who helps out is absolutely part of our common western culture.

Sure. So enabling more of that would be a good move. Maybe rebuild some of the male social spaces that have been systematically torn down over the last few decades.

> I hardly thinking adding the attribute "be willing to ask for help when the situation demands it" is tearing down. If anything it's building up.

Culture is tricky and complex. You can't just change one thing and expect it to not have knock-on effects. Coming up with ways to make it safer for men to get help would be a positive change. But just telling men they need to ask for help might well do more harm than good.

I've got no problem helping those who ask for help. I don't see it as weakness.

Then tell me how I, someone who no longer struggles with the topic in question, that it's too tough and not worth trying and just wants to give excuses? Yeah. That's weakness.