Alphas and Anguish: Unmasking the Manosphere's Exploitation of Men

The Manosphere isn't your run-of-the-mill internet nonsense.

It's bullshit, yes. But it’s a vile, lucrative, and dangerous form of bullshit that's conning millions of men out of their money, dignity, and humanity. And many of them are begging for more.

The Manosphere is a vast ecosystem of blogs, forums, YouTube channels, and social media accounts, all interconnected in a network of masculinity influencers who are perpetrating a massive grift operation under the guise of male empowerment.

It's a fragile empire of wannabe "alpha males" and pickup artists peddling toxic ideologies and half-baked life advice to vulnerable men who are looking for answers in a world that's increasingly confusing and hostile.

Picture this: A man, let's call him John, has gone through a tough breakup. He's struggling at work, feeling lost in a world that no longer feels like it’s designed for him. John starts Googling for answers and stumbles upon a YouTube video promising to reveal "the truth about women" or "how to become an alpha male."

The content is compelling. The speaker - let's call him Andrew, for no reason in particular - is confident, well-muscled, and charismatic. Andrew talks about evolutionary psychology, sexual marketplace value, and the supposed inherent differences between men and women. He peppers his speech with scientific-sounding terms and cherry-picked studies. To John, it all makes a twisted kind of sense. Finally, someone is speaking to his experiences, validating his frustrations, and offering a clear path forward.

And here's where the grift begins. At the end of the video, Andrew makes his pitch: "If you want to learn more, sign up for my exclusive online course." Or "Join my inner circle for just $49.99 a month." Or "Buy my book to unlock the secrets of true masculinity." And so begins John's slow but steady process of indoctrination and financial extraction.

The genius - and the immorality - of the Manosphere grift lies in its potent mixture of genuine issues, questionable ideology, and slick marketing. It's not entirely wrong about everything. Yes, many men are struggling with identity issues in the 21st century. Yes, dating can be challenging and confusing. Yes, there are inequalities and double standards that negatively affect men.

But the Manosphere’s gurus aren’t actually interested in any of that. Their only goal is to push an agenda of resentment, entitlement, and magical thinking. It's like offering a shot of whiskey to an alcoholic - it might feel good in the moment, but it's making the underlying problems worse.

And look. Not everyone in the Manosphere is out to exploit vulnerable men. There are genuine voices advocating for men's mental health, promoting healthy lifestyle choices, and encouraging personal responsibility. But these voices are drowned out by a cacophony of liars, grifters, credibly accused rapists and coaches who have discovered a simple yet potent formula: tap into male insecurities, offer simplistic solutions, and monetize it all to fuck.

Take the Manosphere's concept of "game," for instance. It's a perfect example of their broader pattern of oversimplification and commodification. Ostensibly offering dating strategies, "game" promotes a reductive view of human relationships, framing interactions between men and women as tactical exercises rather than opportunities for genuine connection.

It's emblematic of the Manosphere's tendency to distill complex social and personal dynamics into simplistic, marketable formulas. Whether it's promising to reveal the secrets of becoming an "alpha male," offering "foolproof" methods for attracting women, or outlining the habits of successful men, these ideas package human experience into easily consumable products.

The danger lies not just in the ineffectiveness of these strategies (and ineffective they fucking are), but in their potential to create antagonistic, harmful attitudes. By treating relationships as systems to be hacked or conquered, they actively block the development of empathy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to form authentic connections, relying on and reinforcing rigid, outdated ideas and behavior.

But the consequences of buying into these ideologies go far beyond empty wallets. Men who fall down the Manosphere rabbit hole find themselves trapped in a cycle of resentment, frustration, and continued exploitation. Their relationships suffer as they view women through an adversarial lens. Their personal growth is stunted as they cling to outdated and harmful notions of masculinity.

And it gets even darker. The Manosphere has been linked to several high-profile incidents of violence. Take Elliot Rodger and the 2014 Isla Vista killings. Rodger, who had immersed himself in online communities espousing misogynistic views, killed six people and injured fourteen others before taking his own life. His lengthy manifesto, filled with hatred towards women and sexually active men, made him a Manosphere celebrity.

Or consider the 2018 Toronto van attack, perpetrated by Alek Minassian. Minassian, who identified with incel ideology, killed ten people and injured sixteen others. He explicitly cited Rodger as an inspiration, demonstrating how these ideas can create a feedback loop of violence and martyrdom within extremist online spaces.

More recently, the 2021 Plymouth shooting in the UK, carried out by Jake Davison, showed that this phenomenon is not limited to North America. Davison, who had expressed misogynistic views on incel forums, killed five people before taking his own life. His online presence, filled with content lamenting his lack of success with women and referencing incel ideology, is a chilling and fucking real example of how the Manosphere's ideas can fester and escalate.

The Manosphere thrives in the attention economy of social media. Algorithms prioritize engagement, favoring controversial or outrageous content. More extreme viewpoints are more likely to go viral, attracting both fervent supporters and vocal critics - all of which translates to increased visibility and potential profit.

These factors coalesce into a self-perpetuating ecosystem. Charismatic figures emerge, blending genuine societal critiques with pseudoscience and alluring promises. They cultivate loyal followings, monetize through various channels (courses, books, membership programs), and inspire imitators seeking similar success. The result is a multifaceted grift, one that exploits insecurities and societal shifts while offering simplistic, harmful solutions.

The greatest tragedy of the Manosphere is the missed opportunity for genuine, meaningful discussion about masculinity and men's issues in the 21st century.

The sense of purposelessness and isolation experienced by many men in the face of shifting societal norms and expectations is a reality that cannot and should not be ignored. Alarmingly high rates of depression and suicide among men, difficulties in forming meaningful relationships, and the challenges posed by rapidly changing economic and social landscapes are all pressing issues that deserve our attention.

Without a thoughtful, nuanced discourse and a willingness to challenge long-held assumptions about gender roles, societal structures, and human nature, men will continue to suffer. But the Manosphere's reductive narratives and simplistic solutions fall woefully short of this ideal. Instead of facilitating genuine exploration of these issues, it channels legitimate grievances into narratives of victimhood and resentment.

We don’t need more grifts or counter-ideologies. What we need is a return to fundamental human values: empathy, authenticity, and a genuine desire for understanding.

We need to create alternatives - spaces where men can discuss their challenges and frustrations without descending into misogyny or falling prey to salesmen. We need voices that can speak to men's issues with nuance, empathy, and a commitment to personal growth rather than resentment.

Violence, entitlement, and misogyny are not inherent traits of masculinity. They are not innate to being a man. Anyone claiming so is falling into the worst kind of Misandry.

These behaviors are learned and reinforced by conmen, opportunists and certain cultural narratives and social structures. They have fucking nothing to do with biological imperatives.

Men are capable of profound empathy, nurturing, and emotional intelligence. Throughout history and across cultures, we find countless examples of men who embody compassion, creativity, and care for others. From devoted fathers and supportive partners to community leaders and advocates for social justice, men have and will continue to contribute positively to society.

Because here's the truth: Masculinity isn't a fixed, monolithic concept that can be reduced to a set of rules or techniques. The path to personal growth and fulfillment isn't through "hacks" or "systems." It's through self-reflection, empathy, and a willingness to embrace complexity.

The Manosphere grift offers easy answers to hard questions. But life isn't about easy answers. It's about grappling with difficult truths, challenging our assumptions, and continually striving to be better - not only for ourselves but for those around us.

And that is a masculinity worth aspiring to.