To be clear I'm not saying that if you've ever cried then you're not manly. And I'm not saying I've never cried. But the times I've cried are for some exceptionally emotional moments. Loss of my father, for example.

There are many who romanticize the idea of men crying over small things, and I think that's not healthy or productive. I know many people who will cry when they lose a game in their hobby of choice, for example. That kind of thing is too much IMO.

Instead of learning to have a "healthy outlet" I think people need to learn to control their emotions better.

> I don't value myself as a likeable person as much as she does. If she wouldn't cry about it, she'd feel worse as a person and I wouldn't know, and I wouldn't comfort her.

Isn't that a huge vulnerability, though? Going through life caring so much about people liking you, that you cry every time you think someone doesn't?

IMO it's way better to figure out how to not care as much in this kind of situation, than to accept that crying is a "healthy outlet". Instead of being sad and crying to release your emotions, you could instead learn to be happy regardless.