Speaking of toxic masculinity, I remember Joe Rogan during Covid saying that he decided to stop masking and isolating because it made him “feel like a pussy” IIRC.
It’s weird to me because in my view, a strong person doesn’t care what other people think of them. Rogan’s actions just seem extraordinarily cowardly and weak to me.
Like, he needed to eat elk meat to feel like a man? I understand we all have negative thoughts like that, but to be compelled to act out of your own fears doesn’t strike me as masculine in the least.
Is that a part of toxic masculinity? That it’s centered around fear of judgment and a low sense of self worth? That they feel a need to project an image that’s exactly the opposite of how they really feel?
Because if so, then it seems like even the slightest bit of critical thinking ability would easily steer men clear of it.
It’s all performative. Every ounce of it. Goth kids don’t put as much effort into appearance. Their version of masculinity is being loud, obnoxious and putting themselves above others. It’s a dentist on a $30,000 Harley going 15mph while making 160 decibels, wearing $200 T-shirts and $500 jeans to mimic the hard-earned look of a working man. It’s weak, fearful men spouting off constantly about the second amendment and their right to defend their families but wouldn’t touch a weapon if it didn’t look tacticool enough. Esthetics over everything. They’re not brave enough to be original in thinking or appearance. Not strong enough to be the rock of servitude that holds people together in hard times. The embodiment of paper tigers.
Because if so, then it seems like even the slightest bit of critical thinking ability would easily steer men clear of it.
Absolutely correct, in my view. “Fear of judgment and a low sense of self worth” is also spot on.
Rogan gave national voice to plenty of people who regularly used the term “snowflake” to describe what they saw as weak people who like to complain (I’m speaking from memory here and generalizing; Rogan probably has also used this term himself, but I’m not searching transcripts, so take all this with a grain of salt). By this logic, a “snowflake” is someone who is perceived as weak because they let so much affect them emotionally.
But these toxic men are “snowflakes” in every sense of the term. They go on Joe Rogan to complain about trans people, or gay rights, or “the war on Christmas”, or the perceived persecution of “alpha males”, or any number of other issues. Some guests are only famous because they complain about such things.
So what is the difference between a toxic “alpha male” on Joe Rogan and one of the “snowflakes” they like to complain about? Absolutely nothing, except that the toxic men believe that anger doesn’t count as an emotion, so their insecurity allows them to show it regularly.
(And to be clear, there is nothing wrong with showing emotion or caring deeply about something – that’s not a point I’m trying to make)
Speaking of toxic masculinity, I remember Joe Rogan during Covid saying that he decided to stop masking and isolating because it made him “feel like a pussy” IIRC.
It’s weird to me because in my view, a strong person doesn’t care what other people think of them. Rogan’s actions just seem extraordinarily cowardly and weak to me.
Like, he needed to eat elk meat to feel like a man? I understand we all have negative thoughts like that, but to be compelled to act out of your own fears doesn’t strike me as masculine in the least.
Is that a part of toxic masculinity? That it’s centered around fear of judgment and a low sense of self worth? That they feel a need to project an image that’s exactly the opposite of how they really feel?
Because if so, then it seems like even the slightest bit of critical thinking ability would easily steer men clear of it.
Every element of the whole toxic masculinity influencer thing is just an expression of weakness and insecurity framed as “manliness”.
It’s all performative. Every ounce of it. Goth kids don’t put as much effort into appearance. Their version of masculinity is being loud, obnoxious and putting themselves above others. It’s a dentist on a $30,000 Harley going 15mph while making 160 decibels, wearing $200 T-shirts and $500 jeans to mimic the hard-earned look of a working man. It’s weak, fearful men spouting off constantly about the second amendment and their right to defend their families but wouldn’t touch a weapon if it didn’t look tacticool enough. Esthetics over everything. They’re not brave enough to be original in thinking or appearance. Not strong enough to be the rock of servitude that holds people together in hard times. The embodiment of paper tigers.
Absolutely correct, in my view. “Fear of judgment and a low sense of self worth” is also spot on.
Rogan gave national voice to plenty of people who regularly used the term “snowflake” to describe what they saw as weak people who like to complain (I’m speaking from memory here and generalizing; Rogan probably has also used this term himself, but I’m not searching transcripts, so take all this with a grain of salt). By this logic, a “snowflake” is someone who is perceived as weak because they let so much affect them emotionally.
But these toxic men are “snowflakes” in every sense of the term. They go on Joe Rogan to complain about trans people, or gay rights, or “the war on Christmas”, or the perceived persecution of “alpha males”, or any number of other issues. Some guests are only famous because they complain about such things.
So what is the difference between a toxic “alpha male” on Joe Rogan and one of the “snowflakes” they like to complain about? Absolutely nothing, except that the toxic men believe that anger doesn’t count as an emotion, so their insecurity allows them to show it regularly.
(And to be clear, there is nothing wrong with showing emotion or caring deeply about something – that’s not a point I’m trying to make)
For what it’s worth, to your clarification at the end, after reading I in no way thought you were talking bad about showing emotions.
Thanks. I like to be extra careful.