Anonymous
04/07/2026 15:06
Subject: Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Some thoughts in no particular order:
*There were a couple of fans they interviewed - one of the guys said he lived in his car for awhile. I felt really sorry for those guys. They seemed like pretty decent people. For whatever reason, the message of "work on yourself, nobody is going to give you anything" helped them out coming from a podcaster in a way that apparently didn't resonate from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, there's every chance that they'll internalize the misogyny and all the other negative stuff these manosphere types are pushing.
*With respect to male-female relationships, one of the most persuasive messages these guys have is that there is a gap between women's stated preferences about what they want in a man and revealed preferences based on who they actually seem sexually attracted to. (Particularly in the teen and early 20s demographic where the manosphere thrives.) I'll bet a lot of that could be defanged if more women at that age were saying, "yeah, we do like hot dudes and, the hotter you are, the more flexible we can be about how funny, sensitive, supportive, or responsible you are.)
*The effort that HSTikkyTokky had to spend on streaming looked like such a depressing grind. Congratulations on making money, but at what price? Also, his mom was terrible. Supposedly a feminist who doesn't agree with what her son says but helping him try to undercut the documentarian.
*There were a couple of fans they interviewed - one of the guys said he lived in his car for awhile. I felt really sorry for those guys. They seemed like pretty decent people. For whatever reason, the message of "work on yourself, nobody is going to give you anything" helped them out coming from a podcaster in a way that apparently didn't resonate from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, there's every chance that they'll internalize the misogyny and all the other negative stuff these manosphere types are pushing.
*With respect to male-female relationships, one of the most persuasive messages these guys have is that there is a gap between women's stated preferences about what they want in a man and revealed preferences based on who they actually seem sexually attracted to. (Particularly in the teen and early 20s demographic where the manosphere thrives.) I'll bet a lot of that could be defanged if more women at that age were saying, "yeah, we do like hot dudes and, the hotter you are, the more flexible we can be about how funny, sensitive, supportive, or responsible you are.)
*The effort that HSTikkyTokky had to spend on streaming looked like such a depressing grind. Congratulations on making money, but at what price? Also, his mom was terrible. Supposedly a feminist who doesn't agree with what her son says but helping him try to undercut the documentarian.
Anonymous
04/06/2026 17:54
Subject: Re:Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Other posters have compared it to MLM and beauty culture, etc., but man, I am reading a book called “hey, hun” by Emily Paulson, who went very high in the ranks and was $1 million earner in what is suspected to be Rodan + fields, but she doesn’t actually name them. But anyway, the book is about her experience over about seven years in the MLM, her rise and fall, and then a pretty good deep dive into the history of MLM’s and why they have been able to grow in popularity, etc.
There really are so many parallels between the manosphere. The need for community is a big pull and what is a podcast if not these groups of men sitting around talking to each other, complaining about injustices, and then getting propped up by listeners and commenters and callers. And then for the people listening to the podcasts, watching men have these discussions and engaging with them online. It’s all about trying to get that sense of community.
Further, they feel just like the women who are attracted to MLM’s - let down by capitalist society and they feel like they are not succeeding so they are trying to take these shortcuts, selling these wealth management courses are getting people into these crypto scams or whatever it is that they’re doing. Selling supplements and fitness programs. BS that people don’t need and won’t help people, but they feel like they can be whatever the equivalent of a boss babe is in MLMs - a High value earner or whatever.
They really are cut from the same cloth.
There really are so many parallels between the manosphere. The need for community is a big pull and what is a podcast if not these groups of men sitting around talking to each other, complaining about injustices, and then getting propped up by listeners and commenters and callers. And then for the people listening to the podcasts, watching men have these discussions and engaging with them online. It’s all about trying to get that sense of community.
Further, they feel just like the women who are attracted to MLM’s - let down by capitalist society and they feel like they are not succeeding so they are trying to take these shortcuts, selling these wealth management courses are getting people into these crypto scams or whatever it is that they’re doing. Selling supplements and fitness programs. BS that people don’t need and won’t help people, but they feel like they can be whatever the equivalent of a boss babe is in MLMs - a High value earner or whatever.
They really are cut from the same cloth.
Anonymous
04/06/2026 13:51
Subject: Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Oh man. SO MANY THOUGHTS.
These men are all as deep as a puddle. It would be funny if it weren't so sad. Are there THAT many sad young men (boys?) out there so desperately searching for a father figure?
Myron whatever his name is, holding the fluffy white dog and dismissively telling his girlfriend to clean up the room while trying to save face, did actually crack me up. He fully understood in that moment how pathetic he looked.
Also, this scene:
"I don't believe in depression. It doesn't exist. When my brother died..."
How did he die?
"He took his own life"
These men are all as deep as a puddle. It would be funny if it weren't so sad. Are there THAT many sad young men (boys?) out there so desperately searching for a father figure?
Myron whatever his name is, holding the fluffy white dog and dismissively telling his girlfriend to clean up the room while trying to save face, did actually crack me up. He fully understood in that moment how pathetic he looked.
Also, this scene:
"I don't believe in depression. It doesn't exist. When my brother died..."
How did he die?
"He took his own life"
Anonymous
03/27/2026 09:38
Subject: Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I thought the manosphere was basically just getting women by acting like a controlling ahole. Lots of men manage it without needing a manual.
I don't know what it is anymore. But I was briefly pulled in that direction probably 10 years ago. At that time, it was a stew of pick up artists, men's rights activists, incels, and probably others. The common thread seemed to be a focus on the man's side of a male-female relationships. It was toxic even then, but I'm not sure the mask had quite come off. The ever increasing misogyny wasn't a surprise. But, for me, the frank racism was unexpected.
In my case, the bait was a guy who wrote about improving your sex life in marriage and a forum that sprung up around his writing. Nothing I'd seen in more mainstream areas seemed to be helping much - communication, chores, give her more free time, date nights, etc. First of all, his writing acknowledged that this common advice often didn't do much to improve a married couple's sex life. Next, he emphasized things that were beneficial to me regardless of whether my wife responded (e.g. workout & dress better). And the community in the forum was welcoming. Men and some women who were talking about similar problems. I could talk about my own without feeling like I was weird or a bad person. So, I get the appeal.
But, then there was stuff that was borderline toxic and counterproductive - having to do with being more "dominant" because that's what women really want. Don't ask for sex. Women don't want supplicants - that's a turn off. Lead her into sex. (The lines between "leading" and "coercing" seemed a little fuzzy.) And then there were the connections to other personalities in that ecosystem who were a lot sketchier. The "push through her 'no'" pick up artist types.
I got healthier, stronger, and dressed better. I briefly enjoyed the community. But the ick factor overwhelmed any benefits I was getting, and I bailed. My sex life never did get much better. But the marriage is still strong. (Which, had I embraced the redpill, I predict would not be the case.)
My husband got into prepper/buy gold stuff about 15 year ago. The thing that eventually turned him off was the racism. It was masked too but became pretty obvious after a while.
Anonymous
03/25/2026 14:05
Subject: Re:Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Anonymous wrote:Justin Waller was the most fascinating to me (the other two just look like ragebait so whatever we’ll see how long they remain relevant). But with Justin I could see how his lifestyle “could” be perceived as aspirational, building 30 million in wealth (though that is clearly a lie cause he’s nowhere near that wealthy) and then having the “dream” of being married and having kids yet having permission to have sex with other women while your wife stays faithful. LOL so ridiculous
At least I can understand what he’s going for. The problem is that it is just clearly such a grift. It is really clear he’s not worth that much money. The rental that he had with his wife looked staged. I’m just wondering if one of them has a real estate side hustle and they just got permission to use a staged house because it’s just so clear they don’t live there with young kids. It just struck me as an image generated from some first generation AI program where someone said “show me what a wealthy person lives like.” Just very cheap and cheesy looking.
I believe he’s lying and I do think he is married. He was trying to back out of it by saying the state doesn’t recognize their marriage, but I do not think that is true and his wife looked surprised when he said that. She also looks like she has had very cheap either Botox and fillers or plastic surgery or all of the above. She’s one of those women that could either be 35 or 45. You just couldn’t tell she had so much crap going on with her face. It’s sad because she might’ve been attractive one day, but I found her hard to look at it.
Justin also seems quite short. Nothing against a short king but his height combined with an obvious not very high net worth combined with being married with kids makes me think he’s not getting laid as much as he wants us to think he is.
Just seems a grift and I think the wife is in on it probably helps him run the business. Strikes me as very trad wife coded where she’s like “I don’t work” yet she’s part of it all and probably helps him with whatever MLM scheme they have going on with the wealth management advice etc.
I agree that the house looked fake and his wealth seems exaggerated. But I do believe they’re not really married because she seems like a moron.
Anonymous
03/25/2026 10:30
Subject: Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Anonymous wrote:I thought the manosphere was basically just getting women by acting like a controlling ahole. Lots of men manage it without needing a manual.
I don't know what it is anymore. But I was briefly pulled in that direction probably 10 years ago. At that time, it was a stew of pick up artists, men's rights activists, incels, and probably others. The common thread seemed to be a focus on the man's side of a male-female relationships. It was toxic even then, but I'm not sure the mask had quite come off. The ever increasing misogyny wasn't a surprise. But, for me, the frank racism was unexpected.
In my case, the bait was a guy who wrote about improving your sex life in marriage and a forum that sprung up around his writing. Nothing I'd seen in more mainstream areas seemed to be helping much - communication, chores, give her more free time, date nights, etc. First of all, his writing acknowledged that this common advice often didn't do much to improve a married couple's sex life. Next, he emphasized things that were beneficial to me regardless of whether my wife responded (e.g. workout & dress better). And the community in the forum was welcoming. Men and some women who were talking about similar problems. I could talk about my own without feeling like I was weird or a bad person. So, I get the appeal.
But, then there was stuff that was borderline toxic and counterproductive - having to do with being more "dominant" because that's what women really want. Don't ask for sex. Women don't want supplicants - that's a turn off. Lead her into sex. (The lines between "leading" and "coercing" seemed a little fuzzy.) And then there were the connections to other personalities in that ecosystem who were a lot sketchier. The "push through her 'no'" pick up artist types.
I got healthier, stronger, and dressed better. I briefly enjoyed the community. But the ick factor overwhelmed any benefits I was getting, and I bailed. My sex life never did get much better. But the marriage is still strong. (Which, had I embraced the redpill, I predict would not be the case.)
Anonymous
03/24/2026 20:25
Subject: Manosphere documentary on Netflix
I thought the manosphere was basically just getting women by acting like a controlling ahole. Lots of men manage it without needing a manual.
Anonymous
03/24/2026 19:53
Subject: Re:Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Anonymous wrote:The manosphere is just beauty culture bs for men.
Yeah, I didn't realize this part of it. I listened to this episode of The Daily about looksmaxxing. Very eye opening.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/22/podcasts/the-daily/clavicular-looksmaxxing-men.html?unlocked_article_code=1.VlA.sw6H.W3BZB1jk_YrG&smid=url-share
Anonymous
03/24/2026 19:51
Subject: Re:Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I haven't watched this (and likely won't) but is anyone else feeling a vibe shift on this? Women and girls are VERY aware of this trend and aren't interested in guys who are into it. I kind of feel like the manosphere has had its day.
Uhh, they were never interested in guys who were into it. So what shift exactly?
I don't agree with that. I think there was a time when a less saturated version of this was sold as acceptable and funny. And if you were a woman who was repulsed by it and said so Rush Limbaugh call you a feminzai or everyone from your boyfriend to the AM radio shock jock would tell you that you didn't have a sense of humor. See: Andrew Dice Clay.
Anonymous
03/24/2026 16:17
Subject: Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:They all come across as extremely gay. I literally mean that in the most matter of fact manner possible. Like they hangout in the gym with other guys getting ripped, and then go out with the dudes and act weirdly catty and aggressive to women (I know a lot of mean gays who do this), then go do a podcast with the guys, post some shirtless selfies, etc. It’s like the Taliban or something but in the West. Very bizarre behavior.
It's true. They want to live in a Spartacus world. It's about how they compare themselves to other guys, what guys they admire. I think most of them don't understand that it's homoerotic but I think some are on the downlow. I think a much larger swath of people are gay/lesbian or bisexual than anyone knows because people learn not to express it but it shows itself in weird ways. This is one of them. So many of these types who do get married end up divorced more than once.
They’re sexually attracted to women (well, presumably some of them are at least) but all their friendship, communication, activity partners, business partners, and people they actually talk to and hang out and have a mental/emotional relationship with are men. It’s homoerotic. They need a Time machine to go back to Ancient Greek/Roman times or something.
Anonymous
03/24/2026 16:08
Subject: Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Anonymous wrote:They all come across as extremely gay. I literally mean that in the most matter of fact manner possible. Like they hangout in the gym with other guys getting ripped, and then go out with the dudes and act weirdly catty and aggressive to women (I know a lot of mean gays who do this), then go do a podcast with the guys, post some shirtless selfies, etc. It’s like the Taliban or something but in the West. Very bizarre behavior.
It's true. They want to live in a Spartacus world. It's about how they compare themselves to other guys, what guys they admire. I think most of them don't understand that it's homoerotic but I think some are on the downlow. I think a much larger swath of people are gay/lesbian or bisexual than anyone knows because people learn not to express it but it shows itself in weird ways. This is one of them. So many of these types who do get married end up divorced more than once.
Anonymous
03/24/2026 15:06
Subject: Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Anonymous wrote:They all come across as extremely gay. I literally mean that in the most matter of fact manner possible. Like they hangout in the gym with other guys getting ripped, and then go out with the dudes and act weirdly catty and aggressive to women (I know a lot of mean gays who do this), then go do a podcast with the guys, post some shirtless selfies, etc. It’s like the Taliban or something but in the West. Very bizarre behavior.
I think this every time these men say weird stuff about women getting educations, working, or voting. Just move to Afghanistan and leave the rest of us alone.
Anonymous
03/24/2026 14:18
Subject: Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Anonymous wrote:They all come across as extremely gay. I literally mean that in the most matter of fact manner possible. Like they hangout in the gym with other guys getting ripped, and then go out with the dudes and act weirdly catty and aggressive to women (I know a lot of mean gays who do this), then go do a podcast with the guys, post some shirtless selfies, etc. It’s like the Taliban or something but in the West. Very bizarre behavior.
Kardashian-y
Anonymous
03/24/2026 14:11
Subject: Manosphere documentary on Netflix
They all come across as extremely gay. I literally mean that in the most matter of fact manner possible. Like they hangout in the gym with other guys getting ripped, and then go out with the dudes and act weirdly catty and aggressive to women (I know a lot of mean gays who do this), then go do a podcast with the guys, post some shirtless selfies, etc. It’s like the Taliban or something but in the West. Very bizarre behavior.
Anonymous
03/21/2026 15:18
Subject: Re:Manosphere documentary on Netflix
Anonymous wrote:The manosphere is just beauty culture bs for men.
Ha! Accurate.