[edit: I thank everyone for their comments and time. A lot of very interesting opinions and view points. Unfortunately also a lot of things that went away from the actual answer. So I’m thinking maybe this thread can be closed without deleting it?]
The more I hear people talk about it who aren’t cis-het men, the more I hear criticism about the concept. But so far, I’ve only heard people say that it’s stupid, that it’s not a thing, that it’s men’s own fault etc. But I’ve yet to understand where that criticism comes from. I don’t want to start a discussion on whether or not it’s real or not. I just want to understand where the critics are coming from.
It has very large implications on society, many of which in contradiction with established progressive policy.
So it’s easier to ridicule and/or downplay, than to apply compassion, and change course.
I feel like that’s a easy statement for people to upvote. But I don’t really see an answer to the question. What is the course? Change what? And what established progressive policy?
Not trying to antagonise you at all. Just trying to dig deeper
Very much that. Didn’t answer you at all.
To actually answer your question, people who don’t believe in the Male Loneliness Epidemic (MLE) think a lot of the “epidemic” is just shitty men complaining that nobody wants to be around them instead of doing any self-reflecting and changing their own shittiness. It’s tied to the incel movement (which is why you’re getting a lot of very snippy responses imo lol).
Plus, a lot of the champions of the MLE are insufferable dudes who maybe are lonely not because of some societal epidemic but maybe because they’re just fucking assholes?
Personally, I have no idea if there’s truly a MLE. I think a lot of it really could be asshole men online complaining that nobody likes them without recognizing that it’s their own actions causing their own loneliness. I also think it could just be the internet is ruining any sense of community and togetherness, and men are being vocal about it and tying this loss of community to men specifically, but idk, I feel like there isn’t some special issue of loneliness targeting men rn.
Do you think people are born as “fucking assholes”, or shaped that way by their environment?
That question being:
To repeat my answer: It comes from a lack of empathy, as it’s easier to downplay a problem than to take it seriously.
Whenever a statistic isn’t fair towards a group, be it income, housing, … corrective measures are being implemented. Unless that group is men, such as the homelessness, suicide, incarceration, lower education, … Then it’s seen as “normal” due to “toxic men”.
Wealth redistribution would fix pretty much all social and economic issues
That’s the course if people want a clear one to an equal society