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MOD NOTE: Please note the following part of the forum rules:

If you don't like a thread, don't post in it. Posting in a thread simply to say you don't like it, or that it's stupid, or to point out that you 'knew who made it before you even clicked on it', or to predict that it will end badly will get you warned.

The initial OP posted below covers it well enough: the premise of this thread is that men's issues exist. Don't bother posting if you don't believe there is such a thing.


Here's hoping this isn't considered too redundant. I've noticed that our existing threads about sexism tend to get bogged down in Oppression Olympics or else wildly derailed, so I thought I'd make a thread specifically to talk about discrimination issues that disproportionately affect men.

No Oppression Olympics here, okay? No saying "But that's not important because women suffer X which is worse!" And no discussing these issues purely in terms of how much better women have it. Okay? If the discussion cannot meaningfully proceed without making a comparison to male and female treatment, that's fine, but on the whole I want this thread to be about how men are harmed by society and how we can fix it. Issues like:

  • The male-only draft (in countries that have one)
  • Circumcision
  • Cavalier attitudes toward men's pain and sickness, AKA "Walk it off!"
  • The Success Myth, which defines a man's desirability by his material success. Also The Myth of Men Not Being Hot, which denies that men can be sexually attractive as male beings.
  • Sexual abuse of men.
  • Family law.
  • General attitudes that men are dangerous or untrustworthy.

I could go on making the list, but I think you get the idea.

Despite what you might have heard about feminists not caring about men, it's not true. I care about men. Patriarchy sucks for them as much as it sucks for women, in a lot of ways. So I'm putting my keyboard where my mouth is and making a thread for us to all care about men.

Also? If you're male and think of something as a men's issue, by golly that makes it a men's issue fit for inclusion in this thread. I might disagree with you as to the solution, but as a woman I'm not going to tell you you have no right to be concerned about it. No "womansplaining" here.

Edited by nombretomado on Dec 15th 2019 at 5:19:34 AM

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#21151: Dec 17th 2022 at 4:06:19 PM

Oh, they certainly invent issues. "False rape accusations" is pretty much entirely fabricated. I'm not saying it's never happened, but it's extremely rare. It gets brought up because it's scary - Ooh, some woman you've never met could completely ruin your life TOMORROW! - and can be used as a cudgel to deflect from the much more serious problem of, y'know, actual sexual assault and rape.

Which, statistically, men are victims of about as frequently as women are, but male victims are just as likely if not moreso than female victims are to be culturally silenced because getting raped is "unmanly". Men aren't allowed to be victims. This is an actual thing that alleged male advocacy groups could be talking about, instead of shouting about "FALSE RAPE ACCUSATIONS" every time the topic of sexual assault is broached.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
megarockman from The Sixth Borough (Experienced Trainee)
#21152: Dec 17th 2022 at 4:27:35 PM

Are there male advocacy groups that do do that? The non-toxic approaches, I mean?

The damned queen and the relentless knight.
Murataku Don't Feed The Plant from Straya Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Don't Feed The Plant
#21153: Dec 17th 2022 at 4:58:24 PM

Eh, I've seen lots of groups, both reputible or otherwise, bring male victims up as an issue, personally, so it's not like nobody does.

Edited by Murataku on Dec 18th 2022 at 12:01:21 AM

You need blood and he's got more than enough!
editerguy from Australia Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#21154: Dec 17th 2022 at 5:14:53 PM

[up][up][up] I think there is a problem when advocacy organisations focus on power rather than actually resolving real issues. Some people just want to win their so-called 'culture war'.

LordforlornII Since: Dec, 2017
#21155: Dec 17th 2022 at 5:35:56 PM

If there is one area where anti-traditionalists are at least as likely to shame as their traditionalist counterparts, it is sex-shaming, sometimes to the point of sexual anorexia. Yes, I know it’s a backlash to actual objectification of people, but when some try to explain how even looking at people I find attractive is somehow harassment I can’t help but think there are exaggerations somewhere.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#21156: Dec 17th 2022 at 9:03:28 PM

Are there male advocacy groups that do do that? The non-toxic approaches, I mean?

Yep. The ManKind Initiative has been running as a male-focused domestic abuse charity in the UK since 2001. I know there are also male-focused mental health charities in the UK that I see ads for frequently.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
CosmosAndChaos Peach from Brazil (Don’t ask) Relationship Status: Hugging my pillow
Peach
#21157: Dec 19th 2022 at 11:10:44 AM

Going back to the "alpha/beta" stuff, it annoys me when some men non-ironically use "beta" as an insult.

"Oh, did I win?"
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#21158: Dec 19th 2022 at 11:26:18 AM

Especially since the concept of an "Alpha" is completely pathetic.

Oh, so you're the dominant male in a restricted space created by a force entirely outside of your influence or control that allows you to create a toxic and abusive dynamic through the sole detail of your victims being unable to leave or abandon you?

That must make you feel so manly, to be a complete victim of a larger and incomprehensible system.

Edited by Zendervai on Dec 19th 2022 at 2:27:11 PM

SkyCat32 The Draftsman of Doom (Five Year Plan) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
The Draftsman of Doom
#21159: Dec 19th 2022 at 11:30:58 AM

[up][up] It is an uninventive insult.

CosmosAndChaos Peach from Brazil (Don’t ask) Relationship Status: Hugging my pillow
Peach
#21160: Dec 29th 2022 at 3:42:37 PM

Speaking of insults, I also hate it when men are shamed for having small... you know. Why is this kind of body-shaming still accepted?

"Oh, did I win?"
SkyCat32 The Draftsman of Doom (Five Year Plan) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
The Draftsman of Doom
#21161: Dec 29th 2022 at 3:44:37 PM

Body shaming in general is gross, regardless of the gender of the recipient.

Edited by SkyCat32 on Dec 29th 2022 at 6:45:01 AM

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#21162: Dec 29th 2022 at 4:11:46 PM

because a lot of people still put a lot of issue to sexual power, part of it is how ego and sex is connected so more often that not small p power means the man is trying to prove something he dosent have

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
editerguy from Australia Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#21163: Dec 29th 2022 at 4:27:48 PM

I guess the other side of it is this 'Big Dick Energy' I keep hearing about.

Personally I wish people would keep their obsessions with size to themselves but what can you do?

You might consider it a warning sign that someone is a bit too shallow, though.

dRoy Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar from Most likely from my study Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar
#21164: Dec 29th 2022 at 5:28:07 PM

Well boy, is this appropriate for the topic:

BBC: Controversial online influencer Andrew Tate has reportedly been detained in Romania as part of a human trafficking and rape investigation

Now, let's address the depressing part first.

Romanian police have a reputation of corruption, especially in regards to sex crimes against women so this very obviously isn't the triumphant victory for justice or anything like that.

With that out of the way, oh my God, this is hilarious.

Apparently the reason he got arrested was because Tate’s video in response to Greta Thunberg (and her absolutely amazing roast) allowed Romanian authorities to confirm he was in the country, and arrest him in human trafficking investigation, due to the pizza chain shown in the 2-minute rant.

ALL THIS just because Thunberg indirectly told Tate he had small dick.

Jesus Greta, knock it off.

You are causing so much emission from the sheer amount of burn you inflicted on Tate. [lol][lol][lol]

Edited by dRoy on Dec 29th 2022 at 10:29:49 PM

Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.
SkyCat32 The Draftsman of Doom (Five Year Plan) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
The Draftsman of Doom
#21165: Dec 29th 2022 at 6:02:24 PM

I mean, Andrew Tool *ahem* Tate IS kinda sketchy.

editerguy from Australia Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#21166: Dec 29th 2022 at 7:01:33 PM

[up][up] Let's be real, an attention seeker like Tate would have given his location away eventually, one way or another.

Apparently he had plans to create an Only Fans using captive women to make money. If they can build a strong case against him maybe he can continue his social media feuds from a Romanian prison. We shall see.

AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#21167: Dec 29th 2022 at 8:26:47 PM

I can't tell which is dumber, his tantrum giving himself away over a pizza box or him getting into a spat with Greta, getting triggered and making an entire comeback video over a tweet, which eventually led the police to him.

Inter arma enim silent leges
dRoy Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar from Most likely from my study Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar
#21168: Dec 29th 2022 at 8:31:58 PM

Tate would have given his location away eventually, one way or another.

I mean...yes. That way was the video.

Edited by dRoy on Dec 30th 2022 at 1:32:07 AM

Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.
doomrider7 (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#21169: Dec 29th 2022 at 8:44:43 PM

@dRoy

About the odds of him skating, someone on Reddit mentioned the organization that's investigating him was DIICOT who apparently has put people BIGGER than Tate could ever even indulge comparison(wealthy politicians) on regular basis. Thing is they can't arrest you while investigating you, but yeah...unless the fuck-up something with evidence he's fucked entirely.

Edit: Link to post I was talking about. Apparently it's an organization who specifically go after organized crime syndicates so yeah, Taint is getting spitroasted on an open fire.

Edited by doomrider7 on Dec 29th 2022 at 11:47:23 AM

editerguy from Australia Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#21170: Dec 29th 2022 at 8:46:56 PM

[up][up] Yes, and if it wasn't that he'd have self-destructed some other way.

[down] Don't respond, then.

Edited by editerguy on Dec 30th 2022 at 3:56:52 AM

dRoy Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar from Most likely from my study Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Professional Writer & Amateur Scholar
#21171: Dec 29th 2022 at 8:55:16 PM

So obvious and kinda pointless that it borders on a non-statement but okay.

And to the absolute surprise of nobody, man, Tate fans are crying that he is innocent and authorities should let him go.

Well I don't know about myself, but if he was truly Alpha he wouldn't have caught by the...MATRIX. I guess he couldn't figure out how to break out of it after all.

Edited by dRoy on Dec 30th 2022 at 1:55:36 AM

Continuously reading, studying, and (hopefully) growing.
windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#21172: Jan 15th 2023 at 6:47:16 AM

Love him, hate him: Andrew Tate gains foothold in Malaysian men’s psyche by Arjun Mohanakrishnan

    The article 

Despite his recent arrest in Romania over human trafficking allegations, controversial British-American “male empowerment” influencer Andrew Tate enjoys significant popularity among men around the world, including Malaysia.

Towards the end of 2022, social media blew up with Tate’s arrest, which happened a mere day after he engaged in a viral Twitter spat with 20-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg.

Known for his controversial opinions on gender dynamics, Tate, who has over 4 million followers on Twitter alone, is a celebrated figure for some Malaysian men.

29-year-old corporate trainer Nor Aizuddin suggested that what he calls “radical feminism” and “hatred towards men” are among the reasons why Tate’s content has gained popularity locally.

“Feminism in Malaysia has somewhat grown into brainwashing young women into thinking that they’re programmed or designed to hate men.

“The truth is, feminism is mostly about fighting for rights and equality…it has nothing to do with degrading the opposite gender.

Citing Myron Gaines, another personality from what is known as the “manosphere” movement, Aizuddin suggests that influencers like him and Tate have capitalised on the situation to promote “male empowerment” ideologies.

However, Aizuddin also says not all of Tate’s opinions are healthy for men, pointing towards content where he has ridiculed female pilots and women’s ability to drive.

“Yes, the (women) driving part and the part about Tate not liking women pilots is something I don’t agree on.

“Then again, I don’t have to agree with everything he says.

“I just take the good ones that I can apply in my own life to be better,” Aizuddin added.

Meanwhile, for a 28-year-old supervisor who wanted to only be known as Faez, Tate’s purported conversion to Islam in October and his anti-LGBT rhetoric allowed him to gain a following locally.

When asked why he believes that Tate has as many haters as he does followers, Faez turned to one of Tate’s usual tropes.

“They feel it’s dangerous because most of them are still in the Matrix.”

“The Matrix” is a term used among male empowerment personalities to refer to what they believe is a controlled environment whereby people have to act or behave in ways that conform to roles pre-determined by “the elites”.

This belief – that Tate is helping men escape the so-called Matrix – is also among the reasons why Faez does not believe the criminal allegations against Tate.

Pointing towards Vice Media, which recently interviewed one of Tate’s alleged victims of human trafficking and rape, Faez labelled it instead as a “portal for degenerates”.

‘Messiah’

However, not all Malaysians share the same view as Tate’s supporters, with some expressing concern that even a conviction against the influencer would end up turning him into a messiah instead.

For 27-year-old Hafizul Jaffar, Tate’s ideologies are nothing more than misogynistic rhetoric, which is why he believes some men gravitate towards the latter’s content.

“Maybe some people in Malaysia are on the same wavelength as Tate's misogynistic ideals.

“Perhaps it’s also due to our misogynistic treatment towards women that they relate to this ideology,” Hafizul said.

Further, he said, to curb such views spreading among Malaysian men, schools and parents need to nurture boys from a young age to not treat women differently just because they are of a different gender.

Edited by windleopard on Jan 17th 2023 at 4:27:34 PM

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#21173: Jan 15th 2023 at 7:12:11 AM

Going back to the "alpha/beta" stuff, it annoys me when some men non-ironically use "beta" as an insult.

The whole "alpha/beta" thing is kinda hilarious in a pathetic sense. Like. These guys made up a term based on bad wolf science just so that they could use to signify that they have more Man Points than other men. They just inserted imaginary play labels into the lexicon for the sake of their own insecurity. These are the guys that metallic grey sludge shampoo "FOR MEN" is made for.

It's honestly ridiculous. Why don't more people do that? We should all just make up words that mean we're super important. Oh, you're an Alpha Male? Weak. I'm a Gamma Sigma Male. We have ten times the raw masculinity power of Alphas. Get owned, scrub.

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#21174: Jan 15th 2023 at 7:15:10 AM

A Mega Super Maxi Gamma Ultra Hyper male.

Kayeka (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)

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