Dear Louis Theroux: we are the manosphere

Old-Leader-2105 · 2026-03-16T09:36:39+00:00

Focusing on absolute low hanging fruit like Sneako and HSTikTok or whatever and labeling that as representative of men's issues is so disingenuous. It feeds into the narrative that a lot of what men struggle with is self-inflicted and deserved

volatile-solution · 2026-03-16T10:26:23+00:00

manosphere is a loose term for any space that does not cater to non-male voices. which makes for a huge blunder as they club every of those spaces, good or bad, useful or malicious as joint collective.

i am pretty sure, truly one of all documentaries on manosphere, like this one, is basically rampaging and blaming on online grifters and social media algos, as an effect on "young male children" and "failure of men" to keep them line.

none of them ever talk about the culture : where they are called as useless, by default evil, their masculinity demonized and policed to cater to non-male interests, still enforcing gender expectations by proxy (again to cater non-male interests), laws that erases male victims, economic policies that caused high unemployment rates among young and working class men, declining prospects for loving stable relationships, children growing up without fathers, criminal justice system that heavily penalizes men, less focus on their physical and mental health. etc etc etc...

but nope, they want to shame them, mock them, berate them, ban them, in order to defeat them. but what they do not realize that they are simply funneling these manosphere groups to places where they are even less visible.

manosphere consists of men, who do not hold much power in society. had they, manosphere wont even exist. its most problematic parts are not only hateful to women, but also to men who are holding position of power. they are not worshiping powerful men, far from it, they openly oppose them.

there is a reason, why governments are haggling to men's issues and political parties trying to appease to male voters after losing them to fringe parties, whose results are yet to be seen.

you dont want want them give any concession in terms of catering to their grievances, providing them with their share of voice, attention, resources, telling them that they matter too, stop demonizing them, recognize them.. but nope, you wont fucking do that.

Specific_Detective41 · 2026-03-16T09:48:05+00:00

To pundits like Theroux and many others the Red pill is the boogeyman that the left uses to either address mens rights through "positive masculinity" which is repackaged gender roles and menslib ideology to appease the left and their message is always to stop boys and men from joining the right. It's never lets help boys/men because these rights are fundamental human rights.

It's very redundant and annoying.

Local-Willingness784 · 2026-03-16T19:18:38+00:00

its also kind of weird how they group incels, pick up artists, redpillers, male rights advocates and MGTWs on the same thing, most of those groups hate each other and there is more difference in between "manosphere" groups compared to people outside of it. its more like a catch-all term for men either presumed or asumed to be mysoginists, or maybe its projection, as feminists themselves have lots of man haters in their groups, yet all say they want equality and/or rights, they may think that men are the same.

Specific_Detective41 · 2026-03-16T09:44:17+00:00

What really annoys me is that people like Theroux beat a dead horse by mentioning red pilled grifters over and over again, thus giving them credility.

TomF_2306 · 2026-03-16T13:48:50+00:00

Chris Williamson was called a "looksmaxxer" the other day. It goes to show how unfamiliar the MSM are with the terms they are using. Just like manosphere, its just become a catch-all term to refer to anyone deemed to be standing up for men's issues.

Karmaze · 2026-03-16T14:40:20+00:00

I'll say it again. You can nuke all the 5th wave Red Pill stuff off the Internet and it'll just reform because you still have a lot of creators, playing to a female audience, sending out essentially the same message. And people will see this misogyny as reciprocity.

The best thing you can do is acknowledge the Pink Pill/FDS stuff demanding an expanded and exploitative Male Gender Role as reactionary. If this stuff got mainstream criticism as well, I think that 5th Wave Red Pill stuff would be less appealing.

Edit: The common response is that "not all women are like that". To which I say I know. The question is if tomorrow we're going to have more women like that or less women like that. What's the ideal, the goal. I'd argue that the lack of criticism against that culture gives the impression that more is the goal. And I'll be honest, I've seen too much defense of that culture from feminist activists to think otherwise.

To me this ties into the meme I've seen a lot of recently to where Patriarchy equals hierarchy and Matriarchy equals equality. And I just don't buy that presentation. As someone who actively campaigns for the sort of aesthetic...I've always been against that hierarchical culture, I really generally don't see it in the people who claim to be against patriarchy.

The truth is, both men and women, I think the amount we value and prioritize status plays a massive role in how we think and act. To the point where I don't think you can put the different ends of the spectrum in the same buckets.

AriochBloodbane · 2026-03-17T08:52:36+00:00

The way feminism controls media is very similar to what the Nazis did in the 1930s.

Create fake arguments that nobody really supports to justify actions against an entire category. Anybody rejecting some approved ideas is obviously supporting all the most heinous messages.

Pick marginal and unlikeable figures as example of the opposition, to associate any form of resistance with supporting those shady figures, and so enforcing conformity.

Actually the Inquisition did pretty much the same in the Dark Ages...

xaliadouri · 2026-03-16T10:45:04+00:00

Theroux's perverse. Mattie said that he was recently homeless and his brother committed suicide. "As a man, nobody's gonna give you a handout."

So what does Theroux conclude at the end? "It struck me that The Matrix they rail against more accurately describes the algorithmic prison they've created for their followers."

But that "algorithmic prison" didn't make Mattie homeless. It didn't cause Justin's mother to burn down his homes for insurance money. It didn't pressure HSTikkyTokky to make the tradeoff between being a good person and having a good life. Doesn't explain why they're all training like dedicated spartans, yet few can succeed.

"The Matrix" is no secret. People used words like capitalism, or the nation state, etc. "The Matrix" is just a way of naming what can't be named in mainstream discourse.

It's like his failure to say whether Israel's committing genocide. (I realize he didn't get much time to answer.) If you can't give a good answer, those with conspiracy theories will give bad answers.

mycrowsoffed · 2026-03-16T09:51:37+00:00

'Manosphere' has been spelt incorrectly three times in the third quarter of your post. Forgive me for being a bit pedantic for spelling.

Speedy_KQ · 2026-03-16T13:25:37+00:00

Feminism and the manosphere both have a wide spectrum of views ranging from healthy concern and advocacy for real gendered problems, through to outright hatred and demonization of the other gender.

I get angry with how eager society is to only see the positive side of feminism and only the negative side of men's advocacy. This documentary just reinforces that.

Razorbladekandyfan · 2026-03-17T18:18:19+00:00

But they called the Red Pill movie "bad-faith".

Business-Gazelle-324 · 2026-03-16T09:43:11+00:00

Thanks for educating me.

Whole_W · 2026-03-16T14:44:14+00:00

The manosphere is far larger than most people outside of the manosphere know. It's more varied, too.

There are certainly places like the steroeotype they think of, but it's broader than that...it's reductive and offensive to boil the whole thing down like that.

Skaared · 2026-03-22T03:27:04+00:00

I watched it earlier in the week.

It's a shame because during some of his exposition, he explains that the space is huge and the vast majority of it is mundane or harmless only to pivot to 'and here's the biggest and most harmful examples...' What an enormous waste of my time.

The people that are going to watch your documentary already knows these guys suck. They know they're grifters at best and dangerous at worst. Why are you preaching to the choir? I know why, because it's easy.

I was really hoping for a thoughtful exploration of the legitimate issues being explored in these spaces. Or why people end up at harmless Point A only to end up at harmful Point B.

PastDifficulty7 · 2026-03-16T11:21:58+00:00

I haven’t seen the movie. But Theroux is by no means the first person to include misogynists and pick-up artists in the ‘manosphere.’ F.D. signifier’s treatises on the manosphere are years old at this point. It’s always been a big tent. Importantly, I think misogynists and PUA would identify themselves as being part of the ‘manosphere.’

Motanul_Negru · 2026-03-16T22:32:19+00:00

Why should they make it harder for themselves to demonize men as a category?

And I don't mean why it would be good to avoid doing that, or why we'd want them to do it less. Why would feminists want to do it less, from their perspective?

Dance_Sufficient · 2026-03-17T15:20:34+00:00

Saw him talk about this on the Modern Wisdom podcast. I don't think he sold me on the documentary. It's like he's only a fraction of people who are barely relevant but for those who use them as anti male propaganda.

Cunari · 2026-03-18T16:24:32+00:00

By only platforming extremists he is just as bad as they are. He is saying basically the only way to be platformed is to have extremist viewpoints. And these people thrive on hate views it is a reward for them.

showa911 · 2026-03-17T20:12:31+00:00

I really appreciated readings OP’s feedback. Couldn’t of articulated better.

shrinking_dicklet · 2026-05-27T19:45:20+00:00

Theroux is the kind of person you think is brilliant until he touches on a subject you're educated on

_vertig0 · 2026-03-16T11:36:18+00:00

At this point, I wonder if we should just give up reclaiming the term manosphere for ourselves and just distance from it. I know that's a terrible thing, but we have to be smart: The cards are stacked against us so massively that we cannot afford to slip up even once. If you proclaim yourself part of the manosphere people will instantly see you as a subhuman piece of trash beating women with a whip (Or whatever they think men do to women) and associate you with people like Andrew Tate and the like. There's no winning that battle no matter how much you try to set the precedent that manosphere does not mean toxic alpha male, not when you're this vastly outnumbered.

Global_Estimate7021 · 2026-03-16T14:29:31+00:00

Patriarchy is dead, long live the patriarchy.

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showa911 · 2026-03-17T21:03:39+00:00

I thought I’d contribute as this subject has always been so blurred and i’ve kept my mouth shut to avoid offending. It couldn’t have been articulated better. Stoic values, philosophy, and core principles provided genuine structure, but these influencer types are misusing it to navigate life’s challenges through misogyny, alpha, bullying (the list of horrific themes that gets clicks and views goes on).

The deeper question being overlooked is: what does it truly mean to be a man? Many of these influencers never had a positive male role model and had to define that for themselves. Combined with a society that rewards attention, they’re profiting directly or indirectly through brand exposure and personal gain.

Now the the milllion pound question. How does this get solved? Fix the damn education system is 50% or the work. I’ve seen schools already discussing toxic masculinity but it’s not mandatory.

The other 50% is down to the parent(s). Just my personal experience…I grew up in a lower-class area and you quickly realise that these parent(s) never had the fundamentals of raising kids with core values, usually from broken homes themselves and goes back multiple generations and that’s what poverty does. I like to think of myself as a holistic thinker, and I understand that not everyone grows up with the same guidance. However to teach your kid how to be a civilised contributor of society is imperative no matter what gender, race, religion or creed, especially in a world filled with misinformation.

hlanus · 2026-03-21T04:01:21+00:00

Maybe we should rebrand ourselves to distance from the grifters, bigots, and cowards who hide under the title Manosphere? What is a title we could use instead?

inanehollow · 2026-03-22T15:56:19+00:00

If the documentary is called "Inside The Manosphere" and Theroux only interviews misogynistic self-help grifters, that should tell you that his (and many other people's) understanding of the term doesn't include legitimate male advocacy.

LeftWingMaleAdvocates-ModTeam · 2026-03-22T16:15:14+00:00

[permanently deleted]

Iribumkiak · 2026-03-22T17:27:13+00:00

Deny: "What we disagree on is calling it the manosphere."

Attack: "If you did any research at all, you would know the term is a dishonest rhetorical device created to poison the well against legitimate pro-male advocacy. ..."

Reverse Victim: "We are labeled as manosphere - because..."

...and Offender: "...and now a small part of that is on you."

DrewYetti · 2026-04-12T19:21:08+00:00

Well said and I can also add how the documentary exposed Louie’s own hypocrisy as he accuses those influencers of exploiting young men for profit through providing content that are deemed salacious while he himself exploited those influencers to improve his own credibility as well as profit at their expense. That documentary is nothing more than a hit piece used to confirm Louie’s own bias as he’s feminist mama’s boy with daddy issues.

cjmirt · 2026-04-13T23:06:21+00:00

If you look at the amount of followers these clowns have it’s not disingenuous calling them the manosphere. It’s a marketing phrase for a documentary so probably not worth taking literally. Dont blame Theroux. Blame the boys who idolise these idiots and potentially their upbringing.

Early_Scene_312 · 2026-05-11T21:54:01+00:00

mens rights activists should focus more on the fact that their rights aren't being taken away or infringed upon. no it's not all men, but it's some. and that on its own is a dangerous thing. women need to be aware of those things more than you people who just "want to advocate for mens rights" don't you think so? the big things make the headlines because they need to, not because we want to label you all together as one and say you're toxic, but because it is a real problem and danger to society. maybe instead of complaining about being grouped together with them, focus on showing how you aren't.

AskingToFeminists · 2026-03-16T15:55:11+00:00

Never heard of that guy. Not sure I intend to. Why should anyone care what he has to say ?

Status-Evening-1434 · 2026-03-17T15:48:54+00:00

Exactly. Andrew Tate and the like are grifters who only see money and nothing else. They are taking advantage of our issues to spread nonsense that won't solve anything.

ThisWasMyUN · 2026-03-21T00:14:12+00:00

Manosphere is defined not as criticism of gender equality, but as criticism of feminism.

I dare you to lift men up without bringing women or feminism down

NoBlacksmith8137 · 2026-03-18T01:14:29+00:00

Until society takes men's issues seriously, it will only keep growing. Unfortunately, this includes the misogynistic self-help grift part - and now a small part of that is on you.

I believe this to be true.

I think it’s good that you’re embracing the label manosphere the way you did in your post. I realise I might be a rarity of a feminist to say such thing.

I believe in the empowerment of embracing labels that are often used derogatory. The N-word or “slut” is a good example of it. I actually did what you just did myself for the label feminist. I adopted it after guys in my class in high school had used it as a slur against me because I was intellectual. I felt like those witches who used to get burned because they were too smart and threatening. At the time they challenged existing gender roles.

I do believe it’s male advocates turn to challenge the male gender role. Challenge why boys are told they shouldn’t cry. Challenge why men are expected to both be protectors yet seen as violent actors. Name the contradictions that shape patriarchal gender roles. Challenge sexism.

LittleHanded · 2026-03-16T21:53:50+00:00

This doesn't seem like a very left wing sub today

biggaybrian2 · 2026-03-17T03:35:51+00:00

I don't think Louis Theroux was being dismissive of men's issues at all... I think he was interviewing some of the sharks who are selling young men on false hope and promises! Bullshit artists are always consumed by 'success' and image like HS is

Strong men in the real world are not bombastic, they are self-restrained. I'll give you an A1 example - Bob Ross!

LittleHanded · 2026-03-16T21:52:36+00:00

Speak for yourself op. Sigh. This sub was such a welcome relief but here's the same old toxic bs rearing its head again.

Photosynthese · 2026-03-16T15:45:03+00:00

I feel like they did mention this specifically in the very beginning, though. That the dudes portrayed are a sub niche that separated from the communities aimed at helping men navigate life.

MSHUser · 2026-03-18T14:35:47+00:00

"I had to place you in the category of intelligent people who, upon touching a gendered issue, abandon their integrity and critical thinking and bow to the feminist boot."

"Manosphere is defined by lumping together misogynists and pick-up artists with men's rights and fathers' rights movements. Manosphere is defined not as criticism of gender equality, but as criticism of feminism. Any legitimate criticism of even the most toxic feminism is manosphere."

Gonna address these 2. I don't think he was cowtowing to the feminist boot, and this is coming from an anti-feminist. His documentary, while it is called inside the manosphere, focuses on the male influencers, but beyond the "new world of men" they only retain their criticisms to the influencers and their fanbase, not men as a whole (and tbh the term manosphere is widely associated with the redpill movement despite feminist saying it encompasses all male groups). Even then, this documentary didn't mention anything about mens rights, fathers right, nor even the PUA, the focus has been on the redpill, which makes sense because that's the current movement in the online discourse right now. Usually there are feminist buzzwords and phrases that I often hear, not once has it shown up in this documentary

The criticism of calling his documentary "inside the manosphere" (which we assume encompases other male groups that disagree with each other) is semantics at this point. It's like saying Cassie Jaye's "The redpill" isn't really about redpill (even tho the redpill is what that manosphere title should've been titled as), but is more focused on male advocacy and male systemic issues. Cassie's movie might be called the redpill, but majority of the content is on MRA. Louis video is called the manosphere, but majority of its content is focused on actual redpill influencers.

Efficient_Piccolo310 · 2026-03-29T00:52:47+00:00

How about YOU take mens issues seriously and start speaking up and out about it.

LIB_Laugh_Luv · 2026-03-16T23:40:18+00:00

Just pick a different label dumbass. It’s that simple. You ain’t reclaiming “manosphere” for whatever self righteous crusade you’re on.

Electronic-Link-5792 · 2026-03-16T11:11:13+00:00

The problem is that actual advocates for issues affecting men are incredibly marginal, both in their advocates and the attention they get, so influencers like thenones Theroux addressed take up most of the space in oublic discussion of the 'manosphere'.

Men tend not to look for social support as solutions to their issues so dont involve thenselves in support movements the way women do, and the general lack of empathy for men means that advocates for male issues barely register even when people do see them.

Men get drawn to people promising to teach them how to succeed, and people in general pay far more attention to toxic male influencers because men as dangerous problems has much more psychological impact than men as people needing support.

So spaces like this one basically get ignored for the most part.

Available_Border1075 · 2026-03-17T03:09:03+00:00

How are men being mistreated in society more than woman?

Title	Dear Louis Theroux: we are the manosphere
Author	griii2
Upvotes	276
Comments	235
Date	March 16, 2026 9:17 AM UTC (4 months ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/LeftWingMaleAdvocates
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/LeftWingMaleAdvocates/comments/1rv4lrr/dear_louis_theroux_we_are_the_manosphere/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/LeftWingMaleAdvocates/dear-louis-theroux-we-are-the-manosphere.1575628 https://theredarchive.com/post/1575628

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