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> Why are we so averse to identifying and celebrating what’s good about men and masculinity, and why does it matter? Because we won’t prosper if we convince boy

> Why are we so averse to identifying and celebrating what’s good about men and masculinity, and why does it matter? Because we won’t prosper if we convince boys and young men that they’re victims, or that they don’t have to be persistent and resilient, or that their perspective isn’t valuable. If we do, we’ll end up with a society of old people and zero economic growth. It's much worse than that. History shows that young men are the free radicals of society. If a society doesn't have systems in place that enable them to form stable relationships with partners, peers, and esteemed communities, they will burn the thing to the ground out of rage at being thrown into a system that doesn't want them.

lesuorac 11mo ago
Eh, society gave women a pretty shitty end of the stick and they took away everybody's alcohol for a bit in the US. Any segment can be a free radical if given the motivation but right now the motivation is very heavily male dominated. Male employement is down like 15% while female employement is up nearly 30% [1]. [1]: https://www.bls.gov/cps/demographics/women-labor-force.htm https://www.bls.gov/cps/demographics/women-labor-force.htm
Noumenon72 11mo ago
In history they didn't have video games, porn, or mass surveillance of what you and your angry friends are getting up to. I would not expect things to play out by any historical pattern.
- bluGill 11mo ago
  They had plenty of porn like opportunities. Prostitutes are known throughout history. Usually a double standard where the males were accepted but females not
  - twiclo 11mo ago
    Surely you're not saying that young men in history were sleeping with prostitutes at the same rate young men today look at porn.
    - bluGill 11mo ago
      ask a historian... my guess is no, but sleeping with a girl is better than porn if you get that option. we also don't know what 'exotic dancing' opportunities the 'common man' got.
- munificent 11mo ago
  I agree that videogames and porn are effective pressure-release valves for this energy. Or perhaps sedatives is a better metaphor. My pet theory about Gamergate was that it was in part a reaction from young men who felt disenfranchised by the offers mainstream society gave them. So they retreated to videogames and a virtual world where they could have some level of (virtual) success and esteem. And then when some women showed up there, they reacted with the anger you would expect from someone already driven out of one place and forced into a corner. Even so, sedation and distraction only gets you so far. People want to feel that they have meaning and dignity in the real world, not just on their screens.
- wakawaka28 11mo ago
  In historical times, rulers would also murder millions of people on suspicion of disloyalty. I think you overestimate the impact of video games and porn. Even if what you're saying is right, it's not better than some kind of violent correction. The trouble is that pushing young men to the point where violence is the answer wipes out all the rules. There will probably be a lot of collateral damage.

lesuorac 11mo ago

Eh, society gave women a pretty shitty end of the stick and they took away everybody's alcohol for a bit in the US. Any segment can be a free radical if given the motivation but right now the motivation is very heavily male dominated. Male employement is down like 15% while female employement is up nearly 30% [1]. [1]: https://www.bls.gov/cps/demographics/women-labor-force.htm https://www.bls.gov/cps/demographics/women-labor-force.htm

Noumenon72 11mo ago

In history they didn't have video games, porn, or mass surveillance of what you and your angry friends are getting up to. I would not expect things to play out by any historical pattern.

bluGill 11mo ago
They had plenty of porn like opportunities. Prostitutes are known throughout history. Usually a double standard where the males were accepted but females not
- twiclo 11mo ago
  Surely you're not saying that young men in history were sleeping with prostitutes at the same rate young men today look at porn.
  - bluGill 11mo ago
    ask a historian... my guess is no, but sleeping with a girl is better than porn if you get that option. we also don't know what 'exotic dancing' opportunities the 'common man' got.
munificent 11mo ago
I agree that videogames and porn are effective pressure-release valves for this energy. Or perhaps sedatives is a better metaphor. My pet theory about Gamergate was that it was in part a reaction from young men who felt disenfranchised by the offers mainstream society gave them. So they retreated to videogames and a virtual world where they could have some level of (virtual) success and esteem. And then when some women showed up there, they reacted with the anger you would expect from someone already driven out of one place and forced into a corner. Even so, sedation and distraction only gets you so far. People want to feel that they have meaning and dignity in the real world, not just on their screens.
wakawaka28 11mo ago
In historical times, rulers would also murder millions of people on suspicion of disloyalty. I think you overestimate the impact of video games and porn. Even if what you're saying is right, it's not better than some kind of violent correction. The trouble is that pushing young men to the point where violence is the answer wipes out all the rules. There will probably be a lot of collateral damage.