#14 Talking About Torque

To begin, let’s define the word torque. The dictionary definition is: “a vector that measures the tendency of a force to rotate an object about some axis (center). The magnitude of a torque is defined as force times the length of the lever arm (radius).” This definition, however, is not sufficient for a discussion of Manliness, so the official Mantivities definition of torque is: “That portion of an automobile’s Manliness derived from its power, usually at least half.”

So, in layMan’s terms, torque is essentially the deciding factor of whether or not an automobile is Manly. Discussion of an automobile’s torque is thus very important for Men. When a friend buys a new truck, a Man’s first reaction is often to inquire about the torque. This is a good way for a Man to gauge whether or not his friend/acquaintance has made a Manly decision. Of course, if the friend/acquaintance says “I don’t know,” this should set off immediate alarms. In real life, having plenty of torque is important for nearly every Mantivity that involves an automobile. Helping a stranger out of a ditch, towing an airplane, and straightening the leaning tower of Pisa are some examples.

The Mantivity score for talking about torque ranges from 2.0 to 2.5. The score is circumstantial, so if you are standing over the open hood of a Chevy Silverado or Ford F150, it will be higher than if you are in a furniture store talking about your wife’s new toyota prius.