The entire ensemble cast of How I Met Your Mother was hilarious, becoming the Friends of the early '00s. There was Lily and Marshall, the perfectly sweet and in love couple, Robin, the new friend, a strong and independent woman. And Ted, the man desperate to find love.
And there was also Barney Stinson, played by Neil Patrick Harris, the suit-wearing, womanizing older guy who befriended the crew and often provided the comic relief. He was egotistical and materialistic, and cared mainly about being able to meet and "bang" pretty girls.
There are so many reasons that about Barney that would not fly today, but here are 10.
Things He Did To Get Girls
Barney stopped at nothing to get pretty girls he would pick up in any random place possible. He would cheat, he would lie, he would deliver naughty and often inappropriate pick-up lines. He would use his friends, like Ted, use his charm, and promise things.
He was pompous and arrogant and a guy like that would never make it in today's world. He would be slapped, kicked, and reported by numerous women before his behavior could continue.
His Rude Pick-up Lines
Barney had some really rude pick-up lines for women, many of which surprisingly actually worked, and others that could see someone in serious trouble today.
He once, for example, outright said "come with me if you want to bang." Seriously? Another time, he simply said "daddy's home," as if calling himself daddy is supposed to be a turn-on? Yuck!
His Overall Womanizing
Just overall, the way Barney acted towards women wouldn't fly today. Not only did he shy away from commitment, but he treated women like objects and playthings. He would pick them up solely based on their looks, make no effort to get to know them, and sleep with them on the first "date."
He would then never call them again, find a way to kick them out of his house and move on to the next one. He even devised a Playbook chronicling the ways he made it into womens' pants.
What Set Him Off
Barney eventually tells the story of why he is the way he is. He was once in love with a woman and she left him for a "businessman." Feeling inadequate and heartbroken, Barney set out to become the man that the love of his life left him for (in his eyes, all he knew was that meant working in "business" and wearing a suit and tie).
But he also started to treat women poorly, the same way he was treated. Today, hopefully, guys have more confidence than to feel they need to be like the buttoned-up businessman in order to prove their worth.
Relationship With Robin
It was sweet that the one woman who Barney kept going back to was Robin when he realized that he was in love with her. But it was totally off-limits and went against any type of Bro Code, which ironically, Barney devised, for him to have gotten together with Robin in the first place.
Robin was introduced to the group through Ted's obsession with her. He dated her first, so she should have been totally off-limits from the get-go.
Friends Putting Up With Him
It's a wonder that Barney's friends put up with him that long without actually recommending that he get serious help to get over the emotional baggage and unresolved childhood issues he was carrying around that caused him to act the way he did. Especially Lily, who seemed like a pretty strong woman who would have been more offended by the things he did.
In today's world, the friends would try and help Barney instead of rolling their eyes and chastising then forgiving him for doing terrible things.
His Materialistic Nature
Barney focused so much on material items. And while he truly valued his friends and family, he frivolously spent money on things like hidden areas in his apartment (so he could hide from women), to an oversized Storm Trooper.
And let's not forget his closet full of freshly pressed and tailored suits, none of which were cheap, as well as Ranjit, his personal driver he could call upon any time he needed him. Today, he would be far more respected by scaling back instead of being overly extravagant.
The Mystery Around His Job
What did Barney do? No one really ever knew. It was eventually revealed that he was working for a highly corrupt company called AltruCell Corporation, but he was actually secretly working for the FBI as an informant and whistleblower. What his actual position was, however, is still a mystery.
Later, he worked for GNB where he also helped Ted and Marshall there. Though again, it's unclear that he actually does. His job is jokingly described as Provide Legal Exculpation and Sign Everything (P.L.E.A.S.E.)
When He Lied About Hiring A Nanny
In one of his most despicable moves, Barney used Lily and Marshall's baby to pretend that he was interviewing women to hire a new nanny. Really, he just wanted a way to meet hot women and ask them a bunch of questions before trying to get them into bed.
This crosses all lines.
His Mother's Lies
Barney carried a lot of trauma with him from his childhood, namely the fact that his father left his mother to raise him and his half-brother James on her own. And his mother wasn't exactly forthcoming with Barney about anything.
When she asked him why he and James looked different, she would just tell a lie or try to change the subject to avoid answering the question. And when Barney questioned who his father was, she would say it was Bob Barker just to get him to stop asking. And she would continue to lie to him about things, like saying he didn't make the basketball team because he was too good.