Stronge, Gentle Men in Australia

From the American PBS series, "Understanding and raising boys" :

Experts say that you should try not to compare your boy to other boys and keep in mind that there are many different kinds of boys. They range from the highly physical and highly competitive at one end, to the very peaceful quiet boy, who prefers to read. "Not all boys want to compete in sports, wrestle, and shoot guns. It's important to remember that there are quiet boys and studious and bookish boys as well, and this is perfectly normal," adds Thompson.

Let's see. If I understand this right, there are two types of boys/men: One is physical and highly competitive; the other is quiet and studious.
Oh wait! Those are two ends of range. No wonder I have a different view of the world. I fit on the opposite ends of the range!

I have to wonder if the authors of these articles have any idea the pressures a boy feels growing up. I was a studious, chubby child who felt left out when kids chose teams on the playground. I longed to be strong or fast until about age 12 or so.
I spent a year on a farm school. Five hours of work on the farm; four hours of progressive schooling -- the school was scholarship only; then 3-4 hours of athletics -- wrestling, boxing, and basketball, and suddenly at age 13, I was larger over 250 lbs of solid muscle. -- And still wanted to spend a lot of time reading.
I had to be taught aggression. It didn't come naturally to me. And even while competing in those physical, violent sports, aggression never came easily to me. I always felt uncomfortable with it. I just didn't have the "killer instinct."

This is an in-depth series. It deals with many real world issues. One that it doesn't deal with is the big, strong kid who still gets A's. I guess that 10-15% of the male world don't count. Maybe they're supposed to be so smart they don't have problems? -- The idea just makes me chuckle.
There are so many simplistic stereotypes about males and men.

Australia has a very physical culture. Athletics and sports are worshipped. Young men grow up strong and healthy. Now, if the usual intelligence spread applies to these young men, what about those healthy, strong young men who really do like to read?

I can tell you what the Australian courts have shown me about Australian society: Those gentle, strong men don't exist. -- They all went out and drank until that part of their brains just died away.
They did it because everyone around them wanted them to be common and average. They did it because they were told too many times that they "think too much."
They did it because there is no stereotype in Australian society for a gentle man.
And even if a man wasn't raised in Australia, he is considered a drunken, stupid brute by Australian law.

Of all the lessons I have learned about Australia, that has been the most painful. It means simply that there is no place for someone like me in this country.