Video Meliora, proboque; Deteriora sequor

Cowboys & Disco

Jeff's post about cowboys reminded me how growing up during the '70s/80s there seemed two models for dissolute men boys on the silver screen. One was John Travolta and the Saturday Night Fever mentality. It seemed a decadence. There was nothing attractive in men who were full of pride and weak with addictions.

But cowboys seemed to capture the attractive side of wildness. They were humble about their vices. They were hard workers, evidenced by the long cattle drives. Dodge City was not their life (as it was with the club worshippers), it was a reward at the end of a many months. They were forced into chastity and temperance for much of the time. There was a sort of purity in their debauchery although that makes it more dangerous since the "boys will be boys" attitude seemed attractively presented.