Just like girls have their own rules with their squad. Similarly, guys have the bro code that every close male friendship has to follow. These rules and regulations might seem a little childish at times but guys take them very seriously.
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Bros before girls
In the novel “Basketball and Other Things” by Shea Serrano, he talks about how having a close group of guys as your best friends are as necessary as food and water. The bro code simply states that if a female approaches one of your friends who is not interested in her, you have to go up to her and tell her what she’s doing is unacceptable. This code exists because often a single guy will try to get friendly with a girl to find out that later on, she was dating a good friend from college or high school. For every guy to survive these harsh moments, they have created this rule where another dude steps in and breaks the bad news.
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No talking about other bros’ mommas
This rule might sound outdated, but it’s completely necessary. You never know what kind of guy you’re dealing with until you start talking about his momma. Some guys might not be close to their parents while others might be very attached to them. To avoid these uncomfortable situations, this is the rule that every bro abides by.
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No dating another bro’s exes
In a perfect world, there would never have been an ex because all relationships were meant to last forever and ever, Amen! However, in reality, we know this isn’t true and most people will break up at some point or another. Rule number two of the bro code states that you cannot date your best friend’s ex if they are still hung up on her.
Related: These Are the Signs That a Woman Is Secretly Attracted to You
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No talking about another bro’s sexual encounters
This one is pretty straightforward, if you don’t want to hear it, don’t ask! Some guys are embarrassed by some of their past sexual experiences and might not be ready to share them with anybody else who isn’t directly involved in that situation. This rule keeps everyone happy because nobody is forced into an awkward conversation that they don’t want to have.
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All Bro Outings Must Involve Drinking (24/7)
This is how most male bonding begins, whether it’s over a game of beer pong or simply grabbing a few drinks at the bar down the street; all close guy friends need to get drunk together regularly. This is how you truly get to know someone on a deeper level rather than just being close acquaintances with them.
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No sharing secrets that have been shared between bros previously
Some guys are more open about their personal lives than others, but it’s not cool to share somebody’s secrets with your close friends if they have shared something in confidence with you once upon a time ago. All of the “bro-secret” hashtags on Instagram are referring to this rule of the bro code, specifically saying that if somebody shares a secret with you keep your mouth shut and don’t tell anybody else! People come up with all sorts of reasons why they can’t keep silent and it usually has everything to do with the fact that it’s interesting or shocking information.
Related: What Is the Best Way To Get a Girlfriend
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A bro MUST have another bro’s back
The end-all, be-all rule of the bro code is that you have to always have your buddy’s back. This means that if somebody does or says something rude about one of your friends, then it’s your responsibility to let them know they made a mistake and apologize on their behalf. This rule might make people sound like suck-ups but in truth, this is what every guy wants out of his close group of guys.
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If a bro accidentally knocks up a girl during spring break or while studying abroad, he must support her
Nobody ever plans on getting somebody pregnant but when it happens there will be no other option than to accept the outcome! It doesn’t matter whether you’re interested in being of the child’s life or not, it’s your responsibility to financially support the mother and the child. The child is not a mistake, but rather an outcome of something that might have been out of your control.
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If a bro has been single for over six months, he MUST get back in the game
If you live by this rule then you will never be alone on a Saturday night! To avoid being vulnerable with somebody else who could potentially take advantage of that situation, some guys create “the six-month rule” where they don’t let themselves develop feelings for somebody until they’ve come up with a plan B in case things go south later on down the road.
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A bro NEVER sleeps with another bro’s sister or cousin
This is a no-brainer, but there are still some people who got caught up in the heat of the moment and ended up sleeping with somebody else’s sister or cousin. If you can’t avoid getting involved with somebody from your friend group then you must follow rule number eight as well!
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A bro never hooks up with his co-workers unless they have been dating for more than six months
To avoid being where somebody works, everybody needs to give each other a one-month grace period before hooking up. This means that if somebody shares an attraction towards a co-worker who happens to be employed at the same place as them, they have until next month to take their relationship to the next level.
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All bros must support each other’s goals and dreams
This is one of the most important Bro Codes that every guy should abide by because it allows for everyone to feel like they are on the same page in life. You don’t always have to agree with your friend, but you should at least be supportive of their decisions no matter how crazy you think they might be!
Related: How To Know If Your Girlfriend Is the One
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A man should never fight over a woman unless she is his girlfriend
No gentleman will ever disagree about who gets to go out on a date with somebody else. It could turn into an extremely awkward situation if two guys were fighting over the same girl; This almost never ends well which is why all men try their best to avoid it.
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If a bro discovers another bro is dating his ex, he MUST warn the bro
If you happened to be hanging out with two or more friends and one of them starts sharing some huge news about their romantic life, then all other bros must respect the “bro code” by warning them if they are dating somebody else’s ex! This can happen once in a blue moon but when it does, everybody has an obligation to tell each other so that nobody gets hurt.
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A bro always covers for another bro
If something big happens both guys know they must stand up for the other person no matter what. It is vital that your group of guy friends support each other through thick and thin because if one of you goes down, they all go down. If somebody is arrested, the rest of the bros must bail them out!
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When a bro is feeling stuck in a rut or going through something tough, his bros will be there to lift him up
Even if a guy has a bad track record with friends, they still have a group of guys that they can count on for good advice and warm hugs on difficult days. Some people might say that this doesn’t apply to them because their “bros” aren’t interested in what’s happening in their love life but that’s simply not true; Every person who considers themselves to be part of your circle of friends should care about how you’re doing whether you’ve known them for five years or twenty-five!
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A bro NEVER hooks up with another bro’s ex
There are just some things that guys don’t do to one another because it can mess up friendships and ruin relationships. Everyone needs to keep track of who they’re dating and never step over the line. If somebody is dating your ex then you either have to support their relationship or make yourself scarce until they break up! Nobody wants to be around someone who doesn’t respect them enough to honor the bro code, so if this happens you should take a hike…or at least tell him how much he sucks! That’s what friends are for after all.
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Girls can be bros too!
All guys love to swear and share their private stories with girls, so why not bring them into the bro code you know they’d love it! What makes a girl your “bro” is if she’s just as much of a partier and chill as you are. She doesn’t have to be one of your best friends but it would help if you could trust her enough to tell her things that nobody else knows. It might sound strange at first because we’ve all been taught that “boys will be boys” but introducing girls as your “bro” can make for some interesting (and even helpful) situations.
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A bro should always do his best to help out another bro before helping out a lady
Now, this doesn’t mean that girls can’t be your best friends or even family members, but if you have a choice between helping your brother with his car troubles and helping out your sister who’s lost her dog then the bro code says to help them first. After all, boys will be boys!
Related: How To Not Be Boring When Texting a Girl
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If you catch a bro’s wife/girlfriend cheating, you should inform him
If somebody confides in you and says they’re unhappy it’s your duty as a good friend to pop their bubble by telling them the truth. They might not want to listen but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to hear it! If you find out one of your bros is cheating on his significant other, then it’s time for you to let him know so he can save himself from getting hurt any more than necessary. It won’t turn out well if you kept this information from him because he’d ultimately resent you or be too embarrassed to do anything about it until his heart was smashed into pieces.
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When a bro’s wife/girlfriend asks you where he is, you never tell them
If somebody’s wife or girlfriend shows up at your house late at night, don’t tell her where her husband is. If you do, then it gets pretty awkward when she also asks for his cell number because he never picks up the phone! You have to lie and say that they must be out having fun somewhere. It sucks that you have to lie but if their relationship is rocky it could end your friendship with one of them fast!
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When a bro falls in love with another bro’s ex, he should stay loyal to him by not pursuing any feelings towards them
One thing guys know not to cross is getting involved with their best friend’s ex-girlfriend. This might sound frustrating because everybody wants what they can’t have but once you’re friends with him it’s just not worth ruining that for a chance to get into his pants! It can be tough being the “other woman” but if they were meant to be then the right guy will come along and sweep her off her feet.
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A bro never competes against another bro, only with them
This is a rule where guys need to remember that nobody likes a backstabber or somebody who doesn’t play fair during sports, so don’t compete against your friends even if you know you could win. Instead, use their skills as your motivation to work harder and help bring out the best in each other. This way there won’t be time spent on resentment because everyone ultimately wants the same thing.
Related: Things to Talk About With Your Girlfriend To Get Closer
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When a bro chooses another bro’s girl, he has to get friend-zoned
If somebody’s girlfriend agrees to go out with one of your friends, you’re stuck in the friend zone because it means she probably likes him more than you! To avoid any awkwardness, don’t try anything funny or suspicious to find out if they were dating or not because that would kill the vibe. Just keep in mind that she’s off-limits and move on! She could always break up with her boyfriend for you…or maybe not (see rule #20).
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A bro who changes for girls will never be taken seriously by his fellow bros
is pretty much common sense. As much as girls want to believe in change, guys are forced to seriously doubt that once somebody’s turned their life around just for a girl. It’s up to the guy himself to realize if he has any self-respect left or knows when it’s time to quit chasing after somebody who doesn’t appreciate all his hard work.
