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.
this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2025
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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
But I don't really see an answer to the question
That question being:
I just want to understand where the critics are coming from.
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
From the feminist side, there's a lack of empathy towards men because "they did it to themselves" and from most other camps it's "men are supposed to be tough, stop being a pussy".
though a sizable amount of feminists instead characterize men as also victims of the patriarchy, a system they didn’t choose to be part of
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Most of the criticism of it I've seen is about how the concept's been warped to mean women aren't putting out enough for specific men. Other people will also point out that modern society is isolating in general. People who aren't men who are experiencing loneliness might have some skepticism about the idea it's a man specific issue.
There's also some wariness because topics about issues men face can translate for some men into a violent rage towards women. As seen with the involuntarily celibate movement.
People of all types can take genuine grievances and find a target to take it out on. Like income inequality translating to hatred of immigrants. And violence towards them. When you're the mistaken target of those grievances, it can be simplest to want to get away from the conversation unless the person starting it is clear they aren't targeting you.
Those are my guesses as to why people are skeptical.
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1263527043 Some discussion in here about the topic, but also criticisms of the topic.
https://trinitonian.com/2025/02/14/unpacking-the-myth-of-the-male-loneliness-epidemic/ This opinion article criticizes how influencers drive the conversation, to its detriment.
https://www.fridaythings.com/recent-posts/male-lonliness-crisis-incel-men-friendship-mental-health This person brings up the idea that women are wary of the idea because it seems like they'll be expected to individually solve it regardless of their own wants and needs.
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Two criticisms that come to mind are:
- the cause of the epidemic is the patriarchy, therefore it's men's own fault, i.e. the rigid gender roles and "man up attitude" are within the power of individual men to overcome and they just need to um... man up and break down those barriers.
- the cause of the epidemic is men trying to cling to the benefits they would have otherwise under the patriarchy and it's a reaction to non-men having more status and freedom.
(Before you hit reply please remember OP didn't ask for an discussion on if these are real or correct - just what some of the criticisms are. I'm not saying I buy into either of them.)
I think a lot of it comes from the fact that in incel spaces, it's a lot of grievance and blame by men who were raised believing the world owed them certain things. And now they're finding out that it's really hard so rather than look inward at how they can be better and work within the circumstances they're in, they blame wokeism and women's empowerment for denying them their entitlement.
Dark Brandon on youtube has been doing an awesome series on incels that's definitely worth watching. I recommend this video not just for anyone interested in incel culture, but literally anyone interested in WTF has happened to the world in the last 40 years - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBAX4Wi1iNM&list=WL&index=16
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