I’m sure we’ve all watched that documentary on Netflix by Louis Theroux called Inside The Manosphere where he interviews the most over the top and clownish voices in the Manosphere. Myron Gaines, Sneako, Tikky Tokky, etc. Of course many of their takes were cartoonish and made them look very stupid(more than they already do). There were valid criticisms about this choice and how Louis didn’t balance his documentary out with less provocative voices, and I agree.

There are legitimate issues that face dating and relationships that men do struggle with. The economy is a huge one, dating is hard when you can’t afford to do it, you can barely afford to live on your own and own a car in today’s world. When you don’t have a place to bring a woman back to because you live with family or roommates, that does hurt your dating prospects. When you don’t have the energy to date because most of your waking hours are spent at work, that hurts dating.

Also, the lack of third spaces, not having places to meet future dates outside of dating apps and clubs. Dating apps are a huge hindrance as well. We know the average guy suffers on these apps, but have to turn to them because of lack of time and resources. We don’t talk enough about the role and standards guys are expected to live up to when they weren’t given the tools as young boys to do it. Graduation rates are lower for boys especially in inner cities compared to girls and college admission rates for men are lower than they are for women.

I’m not saying women aren’t entitled to have the standards they want, because they are, but many of those standards do indeed push many men out of the dating pool. Male mental health and suicide rates aren’t discussed enough and deserve airtime as well. Lastly, socializing and flirting are skills, many guys don’t know how to talk to women, don’t know how to build female attraction and how to relate to them in a platonic or romantic way. Many of them don’t know how to take no for an answer or even how to deal with consent, these are all things that need to be taught. And sexism and misogyny are real problems, I’m not discounting that, I just also know that too often those labels get used to dismiss and oversimplify actual complaints from men.

I know a documentary can only be but so long, but the vast majority of it was spent on the circus of a few voices and not on the real issues that are in some cases driving young men to turn to the Manosphere to begin with. Thoughts?