The Thinking Housewife takes a look at what's going on over at The Spearhead, crticizing some of those who leave comments there: Misogyny Unleashed.
What should one expect from what often turns into a male gripe session for some? Is this ok when women do it? Who doesn't lament bad experiences with members of the opposite sex, looking for a sympathetic ear and validation? Who isn't prone to exaggeration and bad generalizations when hurt and angry? No doubt there are lot of men posting who are still angry at their ex-wives and girlfriends. If they were treated badly, especially if children were involved, who can blame them?
As for the purpoted "misogyny"--what can men do in response to bad behavior by women and to feminism? Some of the answers given by men online:
1. There is the extreme solution, taken by some, of shunning women completely.
2. Socializing only with those women who meet certain standards, and judging promiscuous women appropriately.
3. Pushing for political change and a reform of legislation so that divorce laws, etc. are more fair.
4. The PUA strategy of using women, and waging this sort of war on womankind so that they reform their behavior (or to have fun until the party ends when society falls).
Let's just look at #1 and #4 -- they may be some hatred of women there, but if most men, especially those who are in demand by women, were to choose one of these two roads would there be many feminists left down the road? I'm not looking just at the failure to propogate an ideology due to the lack of reproductive success resulting from men not marrying women (as many single woman may still turn to artificial insemination to have children, or one-night stands), but the loneliness of older women may lead younger women to question their life strategies. I don't think this is the likely outcome, but I don't think any "secular" solution will be effective. (Even the changing of misandrist laws is not sufficient to discredit feminism as an ideology that feeds on pride.)
2 comments:
Thank you for keeping up with my posts.
The comments at The Spearhead represent more than just a "gripe session" by frustrated men. There were statements expressing outright, unapologetic hatred for all women. It's a sad development to see this in an online magazine supposedly in the forefront of a new men's movement. Even the worst feminists had the sense to couch their contempt in political rhetoric.
To say these things in a public forum, where they can act like a virus, is arguably to incite violence. Apparently, even a rapist was cheered on in one thread.
I gather these men are angry not just at their ex-girlfriends or wives, but at their mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, aunts, grandmothers, and so on. There is no hope of anything good coming from such universal rage. Ultimately, it will discredit anything good The Spearhead has to say.
Mrs. Wood, thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. Given the variety of viewpoints at the Spearhead, its free speech policy coupled with its mission to give men an opportunity to talk about men's issues, I don't see how such comments could not but be permitted. Those who are more discerning will be able to focus on the content of the articles and ignore the hateful comments.
Those who have had bad experiences with women might should seek some sort of spiritual aid to deal with their anger, but The Spearhead is not a Christian website, and as far as I know, most of its contributors are not Christians. (Novaseeker and one Australian are the only practicing Christians I know of who write comments, and neither is a contributor to The Sperhead. Wait, the Hawaiian Libertarian may be Christian.) There are some Christian websites that deal with men's issues, but none exclusively? Moreover, Christianity is also deemed to be part of the problem by many, rather than the false sentimental counterfeit that passes for Christianity today.
If hateful comments begin to overwhelm the combox, then I can see how it might affect the effectiveness of the website. For now the negativity is due mostly to a few regulars who seem to take every opportunity to repeat their personal histories, how bad their ex- was, and so on. Until Christians start an alternative website that is sensitive to the concerns that some have with "Christianity," The Spearhead and some other non-religious MRM websites remain effective messengers addressing MR issues.
Perhaps one could write to Welmer, who runs the website, and address these concerns to him, but I think he is firmly committed to his free speech policy.
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