Hello everyone, thanks for clicking in! I want to mention a bit of history on how I got to where I am today and my perspective as a 31 year old male. It might be a bit lengthy, but things I write in confidence usually are (apologies!).

First, I want to tell you about where I am now. I'm a software engineer working for one of the largest video game organizations in the world on a global scale. I make good money, have amazing friends and family, and live life on my terms. There is nothing I would change about this.

Before you feel my previous paragraph to be boastful, I need to tell you about how it came to pass. You see, I was raised in the old world. The one where man and woman would work together to solve problems and fix what was broken. My parents were happily married until my father passed away from war related complications later in life. I wanted that.

I spent the better part of my post-pubescent years focusing on finding "the one". That one girl that could fit with myself like a puzzle piece and make everything alright. Up until the age of 27, I have bent over backwards for the women I've invested a relationship in. This has delayed my "actual life" by quite a lot - leading to situations of losing my life savings more than once. I actually couldn't tell you how many times I've been on top of the world only to have it ripped from me, leaving me with only the shirt on my back to get me by.

I am not bitter. Every loss was a mental gain, and every mistake was one of my own creation. Looking back, I can still remember the fights and and double-standards that I endlessly and blindly forfeit - all for the sake of making this one "the one". All for the sake of finding happiness that society taught me could only be found in companionship and courtship.

I noticed the trend of the empowered woman in my later relationships - and one in particular. I remember one of my exes actually celebrated when a local business reported a 70% female staff mile marker. I commented "That's not actually equality though, if you think about it". Wow what a mistake that was! At the time, she made more money than myself and yet I was still expected to pay for everything. I literally went broke trying to support both of us since she couldn't be bothered to help at all. I did this willingly, because I was in love, despite constantly being told I'll never amount to anything. Eventually she left for someone she deemed a better fit for her financially after spending six years with me.

Well it's been almost 5 years now since my last foray into the dating world. Without having to pay for two, I managed to save up and finally accomplish all of the goals I had always wanted. She always assumed I had no drive, but never seemed to understand that I put my life goals on hold just to be with her. That never had any level of value at all.

Well, now I make three to four times what she'll ever make. I have a solid career, a great and healthy lifestyle, and nothing to frown about.

So what's the point in all of this? What's the TLDR? I didn't think it was possible to find happiness outside of companionship in a relationship. It took 15 years to realize it's better to put value into something you know you will always have - yourself.

And the kicker at the end of it all - in my view - is the real victim. That rare and wonderful woman that exists somewhere out there and doesn't want to be a part of this gender war. Because if you were to ask me now if the risks are worth finding her, I'd tell you no before you finished the question. For every decent woman in the world, there are 300 that will play the part until it's too late to realize you've been shammed. It's a very disappointing world we live in, but as it turns out going your own way kind of rocks.