Are you a 'Poyo' or a Gentleman? A checklist

By The Gentleman

We all know a 'Poyo' when we see one — of course we do. It’s in his hair, his shoes, his vibes, his outlook in life. He walks into the black-tie events  — like he’s owning the place.  

But by the time the 'poyo's up close and personal with you, it’s already too late. And if the man in question satisfies five or more of these criteria, you know just how far to run, and in which direction. 

(We have also included a checklist of the attributes of the modern gentleman. Tick off twenty five or above, and you’re probably on the right track. Probably.)

THE 'POYO'

1. Want to be known as "Mr Know All"

2. Believes that 'he made it' if he is featured in a glossy high-society magazine   

3. Must win at all cost   

4. Overtly showing his success or wealth 

5. Refer to himself as a gentleman

6. Name-dropping     

7. Thinking that success is measured by money or popularity

8. Dress to get noticed

9. Worry about gaining or losing in everything 

10. Talk more rather than listen

11. Obsessed with celebrities

12. Ibiza

13. New Gucci loafers

14. Judge people based on their number of IG followers

15. Love to show how successful he became

16. Self-effacing TikTok videos which always somehow feature his abs

17. Owns more than one Rolex

18. Never offer to pay during date or friend's gathering

19. Wearing white socks at work

20. Matching tie & pocket square

21. Hate the culture of excellence (elite) - education, manners, institution, peoples

22. Serve only himself

23. Put down on people publicly   

24. Versace underwear       

25. Boastful on his honorific (purchased) Title

26. Take credit of other people's work

27. Peacock

28. AWOL after RSVP                                                           

The Gentleman

1. Admire his father and his grandfather

2. Consistently keep himself fit       

3. Royal warrants

4. Polo

5. Exercise his intellect by reading history

6. Would never seriously refer to himself as a gentleman

7. Committed to develop his bloodline to be a much better version than himself

8. Not worries about personal fame and gain, but worries about the entire world

9. Harvard Kennedy School 

10. Find value in something according to its history and its story        

11. Putting others first

12. Praise his friends publicly       

13. Admit that he is not perfect

14. Value the mistakes of the past

15. Has said “I don’t know” within the past calendar year

16. Helping the helpless

17. Know how to tie a tie

18. Believe success is measured by legacy and how he touched the lives of people

19. Noblesse Oblige

20. Dress to honor the host

21. Half-canvas suit made from natural fabrics (wool, cashmere)

22. An excellent listener, let the people do 80% of the talking       

23. Continually strives to improve oneself

24. Goodyear-welted construction shoes

25. Taking full responsibility of everything

26. Never slap his partner / wife

27. Understand the burden of being a man

28. Does not follow fashion 

29. Sharp and clean style, no room for too many effects

30. Open the car door for her

31. Nice sheets

32. Eton college

33. Serve all, but love only one

34. Obsessed with continuous improvements (learning, benchmarking, refinement)

35. Realizes that more is achieved through failure than through success    

36. Treat her spouse / partner like a princess

37. Committed to nation-building

38. Respect and defend his heritage

39. Reluctant to lead      

40. Nonchalant