Not sure why you’re being downvoted. I think this is a fair question.

My ignorant two cents: the internet. As always. It’s the internet polluting people’s minds. The far right used their billions to essentially purchase most media outlets. A stupid population is one easily controlled. Welcome to populism.

Step one: control content on the internet and media generally Step two: control the minds of folks perpetually online/consuming media Step three: control everything

When it comes to higher ed—you’re absolutely right. It remains true that folks with degrees on average earn more than folks without. Especially if you don’t have to sink yourself into student loan debt, a college degree is a phenomenal investment.

The problem is that literal 19 yr olds, who have never worked a fulltime job in their lives and have no assets and no financial literacy, take out $100,000 in loans to pursue a degree they know nothing about. And the parents are just like, “sure teenage son! Take out thousands—you’ll pay it back in no time!” Then the next thing you know, you’re 32 and you owe MORE on student loans than you did at 19 and feel hopelessly fucked. I get why some people—who go through shit like that—recommend avoiding college. But that’s a different motivation than what I see more on the far right which simply wants people less educated so that the population is generally stupider and easier to manipulate.

You should repost and actually remove the names, I can see both…

Also, ignore the letter. That person is unhinged—you don’t owe them shit. Wait for the state DOL to get back to you for next steps, and keep calling them if you don’t hear back.

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.

Yalls are insane: $1/drink tip. For a sit-down restaurant, 20% minimum because that’s the expectation in 2025. There’s a special place in hell for people who decrease a server’s tip bc service wasn’t up to par. Either tip the full amount or eat at home, this ain’t 1952.

Disagree. In my lived experience, the kindest person in the room is often the smartest.

Yeah but 22 year olds aren’t just stupid children. Very young adults, but still adults. Perspectives can always change, so with that mentality, never do anything cause you might change your mind later.

If vasectomies were 100% permanent, I might agree more. But 22 is not too young to make a decision like this.