Gransnet forums

Chat

Who is your idea of an Alpha Male?

(119 Posts)
dolphindaisy Sun 27-Jun-21 11:51:13

Someone recently described Boris Johnson on here as an Alpha Male, many others disagreed

Who is your idea of an Alpha Male? To me it's someone who is: Strong, Successful, Good Looking, Confident but not afraid to show a softer, caring side.

My list so far:

Rafa Nada
Keanu Reeves
Prof Brian Cox
Marcus Rashford
Steve Backshall
Will Kirk (The Repair Shop)

BigBertha1 Sun 27-Jun-21 11:57:12

My husband.

Galaxy Sun 27-Jun-21 11:59:26

I think the concept of an alpha Male is meaningless, it means so many different things to different people.

Greeneyedgirl Sun 27-Jun-21 12:06:01

Can only think of gorillas beating their chests when I hear this expression referring to men.

Grandma70s Sun 27-Jun-21 12:07:46

To me it means a male I wouldn’t like.

nanna8 Sun 27-Jun-21 12:15:45

Putin

Chestnut Sun 27-Jun-21 12:24:51

I agree with strong, successful and confident but an alpha male doesn't necessarily need to be good looking, nor does he need to show a caring side, that is just a good quality to have.

What about Brian Blessed? He regularly used to beat his chest and dominate everyone! ?

annodomini Sun 27-Jun-21 12:31:09

My two sons. They are all I ever hoped they would be: kind, generous, good dads and wonderful sons. Contented with their lot in life.

Chestnut Sun 27-Jun-21 12:33:06

Here's a few more alpha males:
Charlton Heston
John Wayne
Robert Shaw
Yul Brynner
They are all from the past. Maybe the alpha male is a dying breed because women have castrated them over the last 20 years!

Peasblossom Sun 27-Jun-21 12:34:56

Oh, I always thought Alpha Male meant someone who always has to be the leader of the pack. Competitive, dominant, with his herd.
I’ll have to look it up now.

Grandma70s Sun 27-Jun-21 12:39:07

Interesting that to some people it seems to be a compliment. To me to call someone an alpha male is an insult.

timetogo2016 Sun 27-Jun-21 15:26:23

Justin Timberlake.

lemongrove Sun 27-Jun-21 16:54:08

Chestnut

I agree with strong, successful and confident but an alpha male doesn't necessarily need to be good looking, nor does he need to show a caring side, that is just a good quality to have.

What about Brian Blessed? He regularly used to beat his chest and dominate everyone! ?

An alpha male is a strong leader that others will either obey or respectfully listen to and defer to.
As Chestnut says, looks aren’t important and nor is a caring side ( in fact the caring side wouldn’t fit in with an alpha male.)

So, anyone in a really top position in society/ business/ sport would fit this term, otherwise they wouldn’t be in that position.
Alpha male, top dog or whatever you want to call it.
It’s not an insult or really a compliment either, although many do admire them.

JaneJudge Sun 27-Jun-21 17:02:12

I wouldn't have said any in the original post were alpha males

I tend to think of them as arrogant, self serving and pretty narcissistic confused and I have no idea why.

Isn't this idea outdated anyway?

Witzend Sun 27-Jun-21 17:42:28

Someone very well endowed with testosterone, probably successful, probably fairly ruthless, often seen as a very good catch - but highly unlikely to remain faithful.

For husband material give me a Beta male any day, or a Beta Plus - a Proper Bloke, but without the nasty bits.
Someone like dh would fit the bill!

PinkCakes Sun 27-Jun-21 17:52:09

I Gooled it:

the dominant male animal in a particular group.
"two of them trotted over to greet the alpha male, a black wolf with a greying muzzle"
a man tending to assume a dominant or domineering role in social or professional situations.
"two alpha males constantly competing to be the best"

I'd say someone like Gordon Ramsay

Smileless2012 Sun 27-Jun-21 17:56:37

I've just googled it too PinkCakes" and an alpha male is *not the man for megrin. I agree that someone like Gordon Ramsay would fit the bill.

Chestnut Sun 27-Jun-21 18:15:48

Witzend Someone very well endowed with testosterone, probably successful, probably fairly ruthless, often seen as a very good catch - but highly unlikely to remain faithful.
Going back to the OP, maybe you have just described Boris!! ?

Greeneyedgirl Sun 27-Jun-21 18:19:48

Personally, “typical” alpha male characteristics in a prospective mate would ring warning bells for me, and in retrospect always has done.

BlueBelle Sun 27-Jun-21 18:22:51

I can’t stop laughing at the thought of Justin timberlake being an alpha male ?
To me it’s a big loud overbearing man who wants to lord it over everyone, his opinion is all that counts, not a compassionate bone in his body (that would be weak) threatened by a strong woman
No one I want in my life ….a Piers Morgan type

Alegrias1 Sun 27-Jun-21 18:24:54

I'm sorry, but I'm still bemused at the thought that Prof Brian Cox is an alpha male. The other Brian Cox, now, maybe.

varian Sun 27-Jun-21 18:25:09

My OH. He's been my alpha for more than sixty years.

greenlady102 Sun 27-Jun-21 18:28:46

Grandma70s

To me it means a male I wouldn’t like.

yup me too. To me its an insult, not a compliment.

H1954 Sun 27-Jun-21 18:29:42

Sorry, I can't imagine an alpha male without conjuring the image of a silver-back gorilla.

Chestnut Sun 27-Jun-21 18:37:01

An alpha male is the type of man that women are attracted to but know they shouldn't get involved with.