Confidence gets a lot of air time here. It's a must-have. Have more. Without it, you are lost. I am bad at incorporating /r/seduction tips into my life, and confidence was not an exception. What was I supposed to have confidence about, exactly?

In the past months, however, I started incorporating a new element to my personality, on a whim (gotta try new things if the old ones don't work, right?). I simply adhered very closely to the traditional masculine ideal: I acted boastful, never conceded defeat, acted like I've never been wrong, never showed emotional weakness (if I could help it), lied about my sexual prowess, acted combative if questioned. All that jazz. To the point where those close to me could probably tell I just started talking a load of shit.

I noticed that both girls my age and people in general responded positively to this attitude change. It seems like that's what society wants from me.

During a drinking game, some of the girls even borderline roasted my male friends in front of me, telling them that I was more confident than they were, and different, and that the guys needed to change. I thought it was hilarious. Felt bad for 'em too.

Main question/TLDR: when sedditors tell others to "get confident", do they really mean "act in line with the traditional manly ideal/display machismo"? Maybe this is what should be suggested.