• CaptainThor@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Men don’t want to be branded ‘creepy’ and women have constantly stated they want to be left alone. Men listened.

      • drunkpostdisaster@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It made me decide the world would be a better place without us. What right do we have to exist if we make 50% of the world so frightened just by existing?

        • LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          1 year ago

          Even if true and you’re serious- it’s irrelevant anyway. You’re still a person and it’s your fundamental human right to exist.

          Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Either we humans all get along together, or there shouldn’t be any humans.

          • drunkpostdisaster@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            What other conclusions is there? It’s better just to kill yourself on the inside and go along with the man vs bear crowd because the only other choice seems to be a nazi. It doesn’t mater what kind of person you are when your entire gender is considered dangerous.

      • deathbird@mander.xyz
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        1 year ago

        Yeah it’s not women per se, though most guys have had bad experiences. It’s also bad economics, loss of third spaces, loss of communities, excess screens, and the shifting cultural expectations that follow from these material changes.

        It is hard to create real human intimacy when you interact with people primarily through profiles and media.

  • HalfSalesman@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Disclaimer: I’m not 18-25.

    I have a ton of women friends (more than men ATM) and have solid evidence that I am a significantly attractive man. I’m also bi so my options are a tad more broad than average.

    Even with this I can say that dating is unpleasant and I have never asked for one and barely do them (women are rarely bold enough to be the initiator). It feels like a socially awkward job interview where I have to spend money I don’t have and I fucking hate job interviews.

    Admittedly, I also am autistic, socially anxious, and sexually repressed (American sex culture sucks).

    • ProfHillbilly@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I am just a regular 62 year old dude and I have not had a date in 12 years and the one I had 12 years ago was a fucking nightmare. I do not miss it.

    • Universal Monk@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Admittedly, I also am autistic, socially anxious,

      Which I think explains a LOT of Lemmy users. Even more so than Reddit users.

  • Bosht@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Honestly, I get it’s a green text, but this is pretty easily explained. First off: dating is fucking expensive, and unfortunately standard gender roles means the dude foots the bill most of the time. Yes times are changing, but that’s still pretty standard. Pair that with the fact that dudes usually have to make the first move (again, old gender standards) and the fact that social media adds another layer of risk of being ridiculed or making someone viral because they were ‘crimge’ or ‘gave the girl the ick’ and it’s a pretty stacked deck. Hell, point one is such a strong weigh in that it’s enough to explain all of it. People are more broke than ever, and if dating by default involves going out, well guess that date isn’t going to happen.

    • TangledHyphae@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I went out on a first date with this woman recently and we just split the bill 50/50. It was a refreshing change of scenery. I think that should be standard so that nobody has any expectations on either side. As time goes on you can figure out how to allocate cash flow but first dates should never be 100% on one gender, unless one of them are rich (in my opinion at least.)

    • Fluffy Kitty Cat@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      Agreed. Cost of living and wealth inequality are getting so bad it’s breaking society. We see it everywhere and it’s weird to prioritize non economic explanations.

      Although hetero dating is just total bs, speaking as a queer gal. All that old cruft is rotten and it’s gotta go

        • UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml
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          1 year ago

          The inequitable amount of influence the 1% gets from owning the means of production. Given time this will erode whatever wealth distribution scheme you have in place.

          See the minimum wage for an example.

    • thisisnotgoingwell@programming.dev
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      1 year ago

      I recently ended a 6 year relationship. I’m not going to settle down with anyone again unless they have their own stuff going on like a career and goals. I think a lot of women expect men to manage all the finances, set goals, plan vacations and provide stability but they don’t want to do the traditional gender role stuff like cooking and cleaning or making a home. So what’s the point? Why make someone else’s life easier if they don’t do the same for you? had a son young(I was 19 when I had him) and he’s 11 now, so it’s not like I’m dreaming of starting a family. Most women bring nothing to the table. And if you’re lucky enough like me to have a good income, house, car, etc… you realize a lot of things are easier living alone.

      Women want the princess treatment but don’t know how to act like a princess. Beyond that, sex isn’t all it’s hyped up to be. I know I sound like a redpill incel but dating shouldn’t be a priority for anyone. What’s the rush? Don’t fall for the first thing you see, make sure they’re worth it first.

      • Bosht@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I get there’s a bit of biterness here, but speaking as an older millennial this was my experience as well. Feminism created a weird gap of women becoming strong and independent, but with some meant ‘im not going to do traditional fem, but expect you to do traditional man’ with no compromise. I ended up finding a wonderful woman and we both split everything, but it took me 20 years.

      • UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        What’s the rush?

        I would guess the rush is that you would have someone to split your crippling living expenses with.

      • Zxq@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Re: “sex isn’t all it’s hyped up to be.” Sex with someone you love is the best thing.

        • lightnsfw@reddthat.com
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          1 year ago

          I’ve not found loving someone to help with the quality of the sex all that much. Maybe they just didn’t love me back or something. The crazy one was always great and was the only one who wanted it as often as I did but the rest of that relationship was a mess.

          • Universal Monk@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            The crazy one was always great and was the only one who wanted it as often as I did but the rest of that relationship was a mess.

            I’ve disagree with most of the posts in this thread. But I gotta say, this stereotype is true in my experience. I have dated a lot of crazy women, and mostly because even the everything else with them is a crazy fucked up mess, the sex is always amazing. The best sex I’ve ever had was with the crazy girls who were overly dramatic, and just always made shitty choices (like sleeping with me! haha)

            I say this as someone who is in a kinda serious relationship now (she wants to get married, I’m not quite there yet). Love her lots, sex is great, but man, nothing matches the absolute insanity filthy sex that I had with the crazy girls. It’s something about that just not giving a fuck what they think or lack of respect, or something… But no lie, I kinda don’t wanna get married because don’t wanna give that all up just yet.

        • thisisnotgoingwell@programming.dev
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          1 year ago

          Good sex is honestly a toss up, I’ve had great sex in horrible relationships and bad sex in great relationships. I understand being in love with someone enhances it but love is a feeling which is impossible to sustain permanently

        • superniceperson@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          Have you actually tried taking unrepentant time off, where you have no work or social obligations, and grabbing unhealthy snacks and drinks, curling up with a good game, and zoning out of reality for hours or days at a time?

          Sex is nice and all, and we’re hard wired to like it more than most activities, but it does not hold a single candle to unrepentant free time when you’re not used to said free time.

          • UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml
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            1 year ago

            Have you actually tried taking unrepentant time off, where you have no work or social obligations, and grabbing unhealthy snacks and drinks, curling up with a good game, and zoning out of reality for hours or days at a time?

            Cosplaying as a free human? Yeah I would love to pretend for a little while and forget the shit planet I was forced to exist on.

      • ChexMax@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        If you decide to date again, you should consider dating liberal women. The only women I have known who are like you describe are conservative(and I have met one or two who expect the princess treatment and then don’t deliver on the prince treatment!). I know conservative men who expect traditional roles, and I know conservative men who expect to split the bills and say they’ll split the housework but then the woman ends up doing all the housework anyway. The women in that situation end up feeling like you: if I’m doing the housework AND working, this is easier on my own!

        In my liberal circles things seem to be a bit more evenly split, and both partners are often more independent.

        It seems like you’re happy on your own though, so you’re doing the right thing by removing yourself from the dating pool! Maybe you’ll find someone independent who will be a good match naturally, but I can’t imagine a woman would want to work and split the housework with someone who has your attitude (“most women are bad and not worth having around”) so you might need to change that if you do decide to get back into dating. I can’t connect on what you mean on sex not being the best thing in the world and the literal purpose of life, but I do know my husband felt like you on that front before he met me. He thought people were just exaggerating on how good it is. Maybe, like him, you just haven’t met the right match there either? It’s not like I’m even that good in bed, if anything I’m a bit of a selfish lover. It’s just that we’re a good fit together. Good luck, man. I hope you find the right fit and realize men and women are equally selfish and equally selfless.

  • TexMexBazooka@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    This thread is an example of why men aren’t dating.

    “I’ve had painful lived experiences and faced unbalanced and unfair expectations, so I’ve decided dating isn’t worth my time right now”

    “You’re an incel”

    It doesn’t really matter what you say, it’s the fact that you said it as a man that will garner disrespect from some regardless.

    • DNS@discuss.online
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      It’s like us men are immune to trauma and if we bring up any valid concerns or criticism, it’s either we’re incels or homosexual.

      Our society and the double standards we place on ourselves as men or women is absolutely ridiculous.

      It’s incel to think you believe you’re the shit and why isn’t any woman coming to you. That’s incel thought.

      Dealing with depression, lack of job opportunities, isolation among men as society pushes us to keep our emotions on the backburner, etc. aren’t incels, it’s whats happening with men right now. Men have little to no support group compared to women and for that, I am envious.

      As a dad:

      I get weird looks when I’m with my child, am told “doing daddy duty huh” when I’m more involved than his mother, am expected to be stoic, can’t sit at the bench to waych my child play as some other individual will think I’m a creep as I’m a single dad, can’t wear dope/unique patterns due to others perception of it being “flamboyant” while women will compliment other women for what they got on.

      Toxic masculinity is intertwined with incels and it’s absolutely rampant in society.

      • multiplemigs@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        stop caring about what other people think. hard to do sometimes but worth it. wear the bright colors, watch your kids, stand up for yourself and take up your space. fuck haters and people who live in the worried thoughts inside their head.

        • Universal Monk@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          Society is only getting to be worse.

          Not it’s not. Just stop doomscrolling on Lemmy all day. Actually things are pretty awesome out here in the real world!

          • WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today
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            1 year ago

            You are kidding me, right? You know I can see the prices skyrocket, right? I can see them live.

            America has gone AWOL and is selling random people to slave camps.

            Russia is winning in Ukraine thanks to America’s betrayal, and European cowardice.

            Europe is dumping all of it’s cash into weapons, and being veto-blocked by hungary. That’s less money going to citizens.

            We might have to deal with a USA/RUSSIA alliance againast the world.

            And AI is getting close to being able to improve itself, leading to the singularity replacing us all.

            • Universal Monk@sh.itjust.works
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              America has gone AWOL and is selling random people to slave camps.

              What?! lol no. Just no.

              And AI is getting close to being able to improve itself, leading to the singularity replacing us all.

              No.

              • WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today
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                1 year ago

                Ah, too deep into fox news to see? Paying El Salvador to fill jails with.

                Don’t you understand? Progress does not care about your ideology, and it is not always good.

                Nothing ever happens.

    • xor@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 year ago

      i’d say incel is when you blame women as a group… basically misogyny….

      i guess, i’ve seen incels blame society as a whole… and have a few valid observations mixed in with a bunch of insane beliefs. i suppose any good cult has that.

      but, if you say dating culture sucks and you’re not playing the game, that’s not incel but is disenfranchised… or disgruntled….

      if you say society has programmed you to need a barbie doll girlfriend/servant and you deserve it and hate everyone, refuse to work on yourself at all, and bitterly polish your gun, that’s incel….

      it’s possible to not fit in mainstream society without being completely antisocial…
      toxic masculinity/machismo is a thing, and it’s reinforced by everyone who’s been indoctrinated… that doesn’t mean every individual is a horrible piece of shit, but it also doesn’t mean you should try to emulate some macho ideal to compete.

      the guy who gets all the interest at the bar is probably not going to be very attractive at the open mic or event feeding homeless people or whatever… everyone is an “alpha” in different situations, human groups overlap, and incel is a direct result of autistic people thinking PUA culture is the base level of society and human interaction….

    • ameancow@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The common denominator in all of this is the fucking internet.

      We didn’t have the internet to give us opinions about men and women before. Most relationships were formed with existing social circles and friend groups. People hung out and had fun and talked to each other until they started getting frisky and then we had babies.

      Now when someone wants to go get it on, they start reading the internet stories and arguments and roleplay issues, and they get tense and worried and then have no idea what to do or say when they’re in the same room with a potential partner.

      We HAVE to kill off the reliance on the internet if we want people to start liking each other again, which I don’t know how to do since we’re only getting more and more locked-in to our isolated routines.

  • drascus@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Every time I see an article like this I think who fucking cares? Like what’s going on with men? Its a generational and cultural thing its not men’s fault. Dating sucks, people get rejected in ultra harsh ways, sometimes being filmed and then posted on social media for trying to ask someone out. If I was in the age range to be dating I wouldn’t bother.

      • tane@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Yup and it’s a problem that only becomes worse over time

      • taladar@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Might be a good time to downplay the importance of a relationship for a happy life then instead of trying to push the message that your life sucks if you don’t have one.

        • shortrounddev@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Maybe being alone works for some people, but the desire for intimate relationships is a biological drive in human beings

          • taladar@sh.itjust.works
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            My point was that making people feel worse about their situation likely won’t improve the outcome. People either would be happy without a partner or they won’t and those who won’t don’t need an external push to try to find a partner and both groups might feel worse if they are publicly branded a failure for not having a partner.

      • Prehensile_cloaca @lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Then perhaps we should expect changes/shifts in women’s behavior to bridge the gap?

        I don’t think that cultural evolution is happening - look at Bumble, which had its premise/differentiation with women making the “first move.” They eventually had to nix the feature, because…women didn’t want to make the first move; they wanted to be pursued. Meanwhile, apps in general are just a minefield of emotional rejection, while Corporate ownership drags men through the muck as long as possible to get those $$$. So most men simply stop using apps and simply wait for some kind of IRL meet-cute. And that sparingly happens in a society that has very, very few places for non-commercial social overlap.

    • Fat Tony@lemmy.world
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      people get rejected in ultra harsh ways, sometimes being filmed and then posted on social media for trying to ask someone out.

      Are you sure this isn’t exaggerating it a little? This may be anecdotal but I have never dealt with any such harsh rejection within my social circles (neither have my associates). What I’m trying to get at is that there may be a vocal minority that gets a lot of online attention.

      Then again if thousands upon thousands of people see such a post (like on say r/Tinder) and take it as a common phenomenon it would still have the same effect.

      • drascus@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Really the fear of it happening is enough. All you have to do is have it happen once, or know someone that it happened to, or see a video of it for that to scare you off of even trying.

  • AppleTea@lemmy.zip
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    1 year ago

    45% of men 18 to 25 have never asked out a woman in person

    I can’t speak for the whole 45% but some of us have heard stories from women about how that other 55% can behave. I think I’d rather wait for a lady to (never) ask me out then put someone in the position of thinking “Oh, is he gonna take it bad if I say no?”

    • drunkpostdisaster@lemmy.world
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      This is it. I feel like I am inflicting myself on women. That I am a problem for them simply for existing. Why would I do something like that to someone if its as bad as we are always being told?

      • Universal Monk@sh.itjust.works
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        This is it. I feel like I am inflicting myself on women. That I am a problem for them simply for existing.

        And that attitude and thought process is exactly why you would have a hard time dating. Don’t think like that, friend.

      • Boomer Humor Doomergod@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        “Polite” implies that if you’re agreeable and friendly women will understand that you’re interested in them and not just being agreeable and friendly.

        I think part of the problem is that what we’re all really after is fucking, which isn’t polite at all. Being polite about it just makes you look weak and ineffective at the thing that we all say we want but can’t mention.

        If any mention of sex by a man is considered inappropriate, how is a man supposed to negotiate sex?

        This is a big reason why I’m engaged: We got the impolite part out of the way first.

        • Critical_Thinker@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          So walk away from them, or handle it gracefully somehow. It’s the same as trying to make a friend. Doesn’t everyone make friends from time to time?

          Interest + effort = relationship of any kind. Find the shared interest, make a little bit of effort… or don’t and the math doesn’t work. If romance doesn’t come, you’ve made a friend.

          • SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world
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            Enough negative experiences reinforce and define behavior.

            This is true for any being with a nervous system.

            IDK why you think every individual magically changing is something realistic.

            • Guns0rWeD13@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              it’s just that you’re fragile and a disgrace. it’s revolting. the fascists are taking over. grow some confidence. we need heroes, not insecure little boys. you know what will get you laid real quick? bashin the fash.

              • Aqarius@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                Yes, fragility is disgracefvll veakness. To defeat the enemy ze men mvst be strong, zey mvst be heroes, zey must have vill to seize vhat zey vant. It vill to pover zat vill tvrn little boys into strong men. Zis is antifascism.

            • Universal Monk@sh.itjust.works
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              Enough negative experiences reinforce and define behavior.

              Unless you don’t let them.

              IDK why you think every individual magically changing is something realistic.

              To be honest, it doesn’t sound like you want to change. You are so resistant to it.

            • Critical_Thinker@lemm.ee
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              1 year ago

              If every individual you approach gives you a lecture you might want to check out not being around those people. Try something different.

              I’ve never, ever gotten a lecture. I’ve been married for about four years, but before the pandemic I picked up 4 women in a year that led to relationships of months before I ended them when I realized there wasn’t enough there to keep me interested. Don’t get me wrong, i’ve been dumped plenty and rejected plenty. I just learned to move on from the rejection.

              It’s like job hunting, it’s a numbers game and every time you try you have a chance. Every time you don’t try nothing changes.

              I just can’t imagine being lectured just by approaching someone and saying hi, asking them a question that is pertinent to the scenario, and giving them a chance to speak.

              • SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                You haven’t tried dating GenZ women then.

                They specifically tell you not to approach women in public.

                And you know good and well that asking someone on a date is nowhere close to saying hi. Stop lying to yourself to feel right it’s embarrassing XD

                • Critical_Thinker@lemm.ee
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                  1 year ago

                  If you’re approaching strangers and asking them for a date and you aren’t an adonis, wealthy or otherwise instantly recognizable in a positive way, you’re gonna get some real negative responses. No one wants some rando just asking them out, but this is not new, this is why if you go to a bar you have a wing man - being solo looks creepy.

                  It’s true though that I wouldn’t have dated women who are 28 or younger (seems to be the oldest of gen Z.) I’m 40. Even though i’m of another generation it’s basically been a 10% chance or less to approach someone and ask them out… but again if you don’t try it never happens. Most people are in a relationship ALL the time… the best relationships i’ve found have been by making friends first in real world circumstances (board game meetups, parties, work functions/events, hiking meetups, running meetups… you name it…) and then being friendly and literally making friends with people. If you click with someone you can literally feel it, and if you like them enough then after you’re already at least friendly acquaintances you ask them to something.

                  If you can’t ever make friends at a meetup or event, especially one that invites strangers and often has newcomers, the problem is you.

        • Universal Monk@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          and you get another lecture for saying hi

          I’ve never ever had that happen. And I’m old enough to have fucked your grandma when she was still young and cute.

          I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but I just don’t think it’s nearly as common as Lemmy likes to believe.

          • Ookami38@sh.itjust.works
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            My personal experience trumps your personal experience!

            This is the problem. We’re all so keen to talk, and not to listen. You’re old enough to have fucked dude’s Grandma? Congratulations you lived in a different world.

            • Universal Monk@sh.itjust.works
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              Congratulations you lived in a different world.

              And I’m still in this world. Dude I still date. I’m only in my 50’s. I’m not even as old as Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise.

  • Alpha71@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    This is a western world problem. In other countries this isn’t as much of a problem.

  • 2ugly2live@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    So many comments echoing “women told us to stop approaching us, so we did!”

    I mean no offense, truly, but you missed the point if that’s the message you took. It wasn’t “Do not, under any circumstances, speak to a woman” it was, “if you shoot your shot and she’s not interested, move on and don’t make it weird. If she is at work, be very careful as customer service does not equal flirting.” Yes, there are some grey areas (not sure even the best gentleman could slide up to a woman alone in a parking lot and not freak her out), but some of you are kicking up the board without even moving a piece. Stop pushing the narrative that only attractive men can speak to women. Not only are you assuming you’re not attractive by saying that (which cannot be good for your confidence) , you’re reducing women’s feelings and concerns as being blindly shallow and unwarranted.

    The world is not full of only beautiful people, yet people still live and love. Not to dismiss the difficulties (as an uggo myself, I get it), but you can get out there, I know you can.

    • rekabis@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      It wasn’t “Do not, under any circumstances, speak to a woman”

      Actually, as explained to me by a woman, it was exactly that.

      This was well after I had married, somewhere in my fifth decade, so I was off that particular playing field for quite some time by that point. But on a lark I had asked a feminist what this “leave women alone” refrain meant. And some of it made perfect sense: don’t hit up cashiers or anyone doing their jobs, they’re just being nice and friendly because they are being paid to be polite.

      But it also meant don’t approach women when they’re shopping for groceries, as they’re probably tired from work and just want to go home. Don’t approach women on public transportation, as they’re just trying to get home and don’t want to be accosted in a cramped public venue. Don’t approach women when they’re out with friends, because they are with friends and don’t want to be cleaved off like how a predator isolates a member of a herd.

      This went on and on, to some pretty ridiculous lengths. Whereupon I asked, “how is any man supposed to do an unsolicited approach to chat up a woman?”, to which she said - and no, not kidding at all - “They shouldn’t. Any man who we’re interested in will understand when we’re interested in them.”

      Like… telepathy.

      Literal
      f**king
      telepathy.

      Sure as shit, this is what a woman said to me.

      Most men get absolutely zero life experience in decoding super-subtle hints, and now they’re supposed to miraculously become an expert in navigating a potentially life-destroying minefield, where the only two outcomes is magically getting it right, or risking a non-trivial probability of incarceration and a criminal record when they (invariably) get it wrong?

      No wonder so many men are saying “thanks, but no thanks.” That the juice - the outcome - is just no longer worth the squeeze - all the effort and risk that is shouldered. I don’t blame them in the least. They’re the smart ones.

      And those who are slightly less smart are at least asking the $10,000 question: why aren’t women making the first approach? I mean, isn’t that what this whole “equality of the sexes” shtick was all about? Why don’t women put their money where their mouths are, and ask MEN out, for a change? Because I can guarantee that while any normal woman will experience a certain level of rejection, it will still be several orders of magnitude less than what a similarly-normal man experiences.

        • rekabis@lemmy.ca
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          1 year ago

          sure thing, incel

          Tell me you know nothing about that word without saying you are ignorant AF about that word, and are only throwing it around as a weapon in an attempt to publicly shame me into being quiet.

          So: nice ad hominem. You clearly have absolutely nothing of substance in which to counter the message, so instead you attack the speaker.

          Truly an effective way of winning arguments! /s

      • Ibuthyr@lemmy.wtf
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        1 year ago

        I have a feeling this is a very american thing. Random encounters with the other sex were the norm in Germany (at least before tinder and the likes, no idea how it’s nowadays). Being confident got you a long way. Not always, mind you. But often enough. Most women actually like being spoken to, as long as it’s a friendly encounter. I believe it might be different in America because everyone there is trying to one up each other (often resulting in loud and annoying behavior). I wouldn’t want to be chatted up by the cliche american guy either.

      • 2ugly2live@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I would honestly say your friend misunderstood the message as well if that was her takeaway.

        • rekabis@lemmy.ca
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          1 year ago

          I would honestly say your friend misunderstood the message as well if that was her takeaway.

          Unlikely - she was and still is a professor teaching women’s studies at the local university. Published, too. She’s hardly a nobody.

          • LH0ezVT@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            I had a physics professor tell me about free energy. Having a degree is not 100% effective in curing stupid.

      • TheDoozer@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I was with you (to a degree)until:

        they’re supposed to miraculously become an expert in navigating a potentially life-destroying minefield, where the only two outcomes is magically getting it right, or risking a non-trivial probability of incarceration and a criminal record when they (invariably) get it wrong?

        This is some nonsense. The worst the man will get (barring some VERY unacceptable behavior on his part) is yelled at by an angry (and probably shitty, if all the man did was politely approach at even a remotely reasonable time) woman. Which, turns out, is something women deal with from shitty men fairly regularly. It turns out, when you are interacting with strangers out in public, there is a small chance you are going to interact with an asshole. That doesn’t mean you should be a hermit, that means you met an asshole. And if everyone you meet is an asshole… you’re probably the asshole.

        But nobody is going to jail or having life-shattering consequences for saying hello to a woman they don’t know.

        THAT BEING SAID, if we, as men, are regularly told that approaching a woman in public is uncomfortable, unpleasant, or downright scary for women, decent men won’t want to approach women in order to avoid making them uncomfortable.

        My personal experience has been to the contrary, and have struck up conversations with a number of women I didn’t know in public, and never had a particularly bad experience. Maybe I am generally non-threatening, or maybe I have better social skills than some, but if all a person who rarely interacts with women hears is that initiating any sort of contact is unpleasant to the woman they talk to, I can’t imagine they’d be inclined to strike up a conversation. And if they do make women uncomfortable (due to poor social skills from… not regularly interacting with women), it only reinforces that belief.

        What’s the answer? I don’t know. But it feels like making men who care about the feelings of women uncomfortable with approaching them does nothing but leave the ones who don’t care. I think the message needs to change.

    • TonyOstrich@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Why does it have to be men doing the asking? Maybe it’s the 'tism talking but I tend to be very onboard for the whole equity and equality stuff especially in a relationship. I have never understood why people feel so strongly about gendered roles or activities. Despite being functional in pretty much all traditionally gendered skills (in both directions), I haven’t really ever encountered someone that takes it as seriously.

      Of the women I have dated that have been the most vocal about equity and DEI when I point out that they tend to all back to traditional gender roles when it’s to their advantage they have all essentially ended up saying that it is just their personal preference. Well no shit. I’m sure there are plenty of men who would prefer to be able to have all of the housework done by their partner, or billionaires that don’t want to give up any of their money even if they talk about wealth inequality. Just because it’s a preference doesn’t mean it’s OK.

      • 2ugly2live@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Men don’t have to be the ones asking, but I was responding to the idea that men can’t approach women by default. Either gender can shoot their shot.

        And those women can have a preference for a more “traditional” role, it just means they need to be aware that not every guy they meet is going to be cool with that and that may mean making a choice down the line. The idea is that two people are in a relationship that works for them and everyone is safe and respected. So, yes, it’s okay for people to have that preference. The issue is forcing your preference to be the standard.

        • TonyOstrich@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          The issue with the women I have met in my example is that they only want the advantages of the traditional without the negatives. They want the emotional and labor and physical chores to be shared equally, but they don’t want to be responsible for initiating or pursuing. Nor do they have any interest in learning how to do basic things with tools and would rather their partner deal with it.

          If we aren’t going to give a misogynist a pass because they don’t want to give up what they have for equality because that’s just his preference, then I don’t think it’s fair to give anyone else a pass when applying the same logic.

  • mysticpickle@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    Tbh playing Magic the Gathering or Warhammer 40k with random dudes at a hobby store is cheaper and more fun than most traditional dates I’ve been on.

        • medgremlin@midwest.social
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          1 year ago

          As a woman who has been trying for literal decades to exist in traditionally male nerdy spaces, there are a LOT of asshole gatekeeper guys that keep the women away. I’ve gotten everything from inquisitions into my “nerd cred” to outright rape threats from guys in nerdy and gaming communities.

          • Psychadelligoat@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            1 year ago

            Actual guy at gaming table one day: “Man, why aren’t there ever any CHICKS at these MTG meets? I wanna see GIRL boob, not MAN boob!”

            Someone else: “It smells like 5 types of nutsack in here & every guy in here would eye rape any woman who came in here, that’s why”

            Original guy: classic nerd laugh “yeah, exactly!”

            They don’t listen, either. You get a girlfriend, wife, boyfriend, whatever, and they just keep being exactly the same and wondering why it doesn’t get better

            I fuckin hate em

  • LongboardingLad@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    For me personally, it’s a combination of factors. A non zero number of my exes lost interest after a while and it damaged my ego pretty badly. Dating Apps are a string of getting ghosted with the occasional date that leads to me paying for drinks and dinner, only to get ghosted. I’ve always been a shy person and I can only handle so much failure before I don’t want to play anymore. I missed out on the high school and college dating scenes and it shows. There is one common denominator in all of my dating failures and it’s me.

  • Bacano@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I keep saying this cause it’s a take a lot of people gloss over. I haven’t dated in a while because I’m too broke to add anything else to my budget, dive bars included. Dating takes time and money, and if I get more of either, I’m using it to better my situation before thinking about dating.

    In a time where real wealth is dwindling for most young men, I can imagine I’m not alone on this.

    • nomad@infosec.pub
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      1 year ago

      Life advice from an old’ish dude: find a girl when you are broke. She will always love you, not the money. She will also love you in hardship and she won’t care if you go for a walk or watch Netflix because it’s cheaper. :)

  • Mac@mander.xyz
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    1 year ago

    For what reason would men randomly approach women? Women online have made it clear that doing so results in being made fun of, that women hate the features of testosterone-having men, and they’ve made it clear there is a long list of “icks” that you can’t have.

    The only dating i do is within the circles of friends.

    Currently working on an absolute package, btw. Funny, fun, beautiful, sheeeeeesh.
    The heart flutters at the thought.

      • Mac@mander.xyz
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        1 year ago

        Hard to believe, i know, but i have actually dated women IRL. lol

    • Geetnerd@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      What women hate is some stranger approaching them, out of the blue, in the most obvious and clueless way.

      “Hello, female, I see you’re having fun with your friends. You don’t know me, M’Lady, but I wanted to let you know that I think you’re prime mating material, and would like to invite you back to my parent’s basement for Chicken Tendies. We will listen to music you like, until your mating orifice is sufficiently lubricated. Or we can watch Naruto. Rest assured, I am attentive, I watched many videos on foreplay. Shall I summon an Uber?”

        • Geetnerd@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          No, they don’t.

          I’m mocking them, in an attempt to shame them into putting themselves out there, and learning from experience like we did back in the day.

  • emmy67@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Well, we need referrals from friends to know men are safe. Even then i take it with a grain of salt

  • 5oap10116@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I’m married to a tinder girl now so say what you want about that but for me, it was fear of further social ostracization. I always struggled to fit in, in grade school because I was asian in a sea of white kids. Some kids were literally afraid to touch the “chinese boy” (i was korean but try telling that to rabid white elementary and middle school kids looking for any reason to other anyone). I became a huge people pleaser and tried not to stick out for any reason. I had also seen how the “popular” kids treated any of the geeks who tried to shoot their shot and I didn’t want to fuck up any of the social capital I thought I had. It obviously got better in late high school as kids grew up but the damage was done. I had a few girlfriends in high school and college but they mostly came after me or we kind of just found ourselves getting close so there wasn’t any formal “asking out” type of stuff. Either way I probably blew a lot of romantic opportunities but it is what it is.

    I got a boy due in June so hopefully I can instill the confidence in him that I didn’t have.