Our jouneys are all different. Some of us learn faster than others and master GYOW while young by learning from the mistakes of their elders, and then others (like myself) have to learn the hard way. But eventually the Red Pills will stick and you can move forward in a way that is earth shaking in it's own way.

My 1st red pill was probably from my Grandfather. I remember very clearly sitting with him in a boat while fishing as a child of about 7 or 8, we had a long chat that stayed with me. He told me that I should never trust a woman with my money, and that I should always my own bank account. Later that day he took me to the bank and got me my first savings account that I put all of my pop bottle recycling money into it along with my birthday money. Then he told me to hide it and never show anyone. My money was mine.

Later when I was 12 my Mother convinced me to empty it out so that she could use the money for household bills, and that was the end of my first bank account. It ws gone, but the lesson remained: Don't share information uneccisarilly.

My 2nd red pill came from my Mother. She sat me down when I was 14 and I thought we were going to have "the talk." We did, but noit the talk I was expecting. She laid it out to me that women were abusive and manipulative, and would cheat on me if given even half a chance. She didn't come right out and tell me that this was all knowledge from experience, but after she broke it off with my Dad I had a lot of "Uncles" that I had never met before and then never saw again. I also ended up with a little sister at this time. She laid out a lot of the tactics that a girl would use to control me. I still fell for them over the years, but I managed to dodge the crazy more often than not.

My 3rd red pill came from listening to Tom Leykus. I was newly married and still flush with the hormonal rush of constant sex and the work vehicle had the radio station tuned to an AM channel and he came on. At first I was outraged that a man could ever speak and act like this towards women. It was shocking! Then I realized that a few of his points were pretty much spot on, so I kept listening. More points were spot on as well. And then more. It didn't take long for me to become a convert. I put some of the practices in place in my marriage and things improved for me. Too bad it didn't last. Then again, it never does.

My final red pill came after my (relatively amicable) divorce. After setting my house in order I decided to start dating again and HOLY MOTHER MURPHY was it ever a shit show! Tinder was nothing but 20 somethings showing off as much skin as possible while saying "I don't want a hook-up" and "I'm looking for a man that can appreciate the finer things in life and share them with me." and the ever popular "If you can't handle me at my worst, then you don't deserve me at my best." Those three statements along could be enough for an entire post all by themselves... but I digress.

I decided to meet up with a woman. She wasn't young, but seemed cute enough (Photoshop is a thing. Be warned) and I took the plunge and met her at her place. And that's where I learned that she was on Long Term welfare due to mental health issues that prevented her from working. And that she had an adult daughter who was also on long term welfare for mental health issues. And her adult son who was also on long term welfare because his anger issues made him unemployable.

I think I ran out of there so fast that my shadow had to sprint to catch up.

As I sat there realizing the sheer magnitude of the shotgun blast that I had dodged, I realized that I was really done dealing with the lunacy of dating and dealing with women that I really didn't need to. I still work in an office with far more women than men, and have a lot of female clients, but they have no place in my private life any longer. The thing that I find very interesting is that the loneliness and longing that I felt before is completely gone now. It's like that last encounter with a post wall THOT and her damaged progeny shattered the last vestiges of my programming and has set me free.

So for that, I thank you crazy skank, and I sincerely hope that I never see you again. And to you magnificent bastards, thank you for allowing me to join you at the fireside here in this community.