It’s tempting to scoff, but don’t dismiss the data. Modern man’s failure to forge real, meaningful friendships is bad for everyone, says Guardian Europe columnist Alexander Hurst
Let me address men directly: this is our problem and our responsibility. We need to find a way out of this, and I think that starts with separating masculinity from “domination”. For too many men, domination is where masculinity is grounded. Dominating conversations online and offline, dominating the physical space around them, dominating women (“Your body, my choice,” Nick Fuentes tweeted after Donald Trump’s second election victory). An identity formed around domination was always going to damage men, because it is fundamentally at odds with community. I think community is what whole swathes of alienated westerners are really yearning for deep down.
I’m in agreement. The way men choose to express themselves today, especially in North America, is so dangerous and destructive to everyone around them. Or as this article says, the community around them. As we are witnessing, it doesn’t take much to push that mindset of domination into real physical violence.
An issue with mental health that I’ve seen over the past five years is that you can’t help people who refuse to help themselves first. Forcing your help with someone elses mental health leads to a push back. If someone is struggling and is angry, I’m likely to make them more angry by bringing up the topic or trying to push them into a healthier direction.
On the opposite side, if a person is willing to address issues and accept help, I will see improvement at an impressive rate of change. The choice to help themselves first had such a dramatic and positive result.
It may be hard to hear but men need to take responsibility when it comes to improving themselves. The burden to improve should not fall on other people. People have limited energy and still need to care for themselves first.
If men want to see a world where they are truly happy, they will have to take the first steps. It’s uncomfortable and painful. Dealing with mental health is uncomfortable and painful. But if they are willing to do that, then a change towards a happier and healthier self and community is possible.
How? Unfortunately I don’t have an answer for that question. We need more men willing to step up and begin that conversation.
Women have a problem, Society needs to change.
Men have a problem, Men need to change.
Tale as old as time.
Societal change starts with the individual.
I’m in agreement. The way men choose to express themselves today, especially in North America, is so dangerous and destructive to everyone around them. Or as this article says, the community around them. As we are witnessing, it doesn’t take much to push that mindset of domination into real physical violence.
An issue with mental health that I’ve seen over the past five years is that you can’t help people who refuse to help themselves first. Forcing your help with someone elses mental health leads to a push back. If someone is struggling and is angry, I’m likely to make them more angry by bringing up the topic or trying to push them into a healthier direction.
On the opposite side, if a person is willing to address issues and accept help, I will see improvement at an impressive rate of change. The choice to help themselves first had such a dramatic and positive result.
It may be hard to hear but men need to take responsibility when it comes to improving themselves. The burden to improve should not fall on other people. People have limited energy and still need to care for themselves first.
If men want to see a world where they are truly happy, they will have to take the first steps. It’s uncomfortable and painful. Dealing with mental health is uncomfortable and painful. But if they are willing to do that, then a change towards a happier and healthier self and community is possible.
How? Unfortunately I don’t have an answer for that question. We need more men willing to step up and begin that conversation.
“Why are the ones in charge of society always the ones being asked to fix it?”
I’ve never been in charge of shit