A call for individual impetus or responsibility to fix system issues isn't necessarily wrong, but it's usually futile.

Consider: some set of features that identify an individual, over time, begin to predict a worse or less ideal state. Is the cause and solution most likely to be a collective individual moral failure, requiring a collective individual improvement? It's possible. But is it likely?

Or perhaps a better question, is this proposed solution likely to improve the state of the world to one we all like? "Be better, it's not our responsibility to fix your issues." If this is repeated enough does the trend reverse? Or if it doesn't reverse, do we simply not care? If we don't think this will reverse the trend, and if we do care, then this seems like a poor strategy.

You don't have to care or not care about any individual, and you don't have to take any individuals belief or claim at face value. That's the difference between trying to divide up lines and attribute moral defect to society or individual, and trying to map out a complex system at understand solutions that aren't about assigning blame or worth, but rather improving society for all.

Still, an ability to have empathy for those who suffer, whether they are part of your side of the culture war or not, is (only in my opinion) a beautiful trait.

I agree and this has made me rethink my comment and the angle I took.

The suicide of famous artists such as Chris Cornell and Scott Hutchison - particularly Hutchison - has really shocked me and made me think more widely about what it means to live happily as a man these days. I think we need more people thinking about it positively. And more people need to embrace and encourage civility as you've done.

It's so easy to fling rocks in the culture wars, and satisfying too, but in a junk food way.

As you say, there's a bigger picture.

Thank you.

I like the war and peace reference too ;)

Acknowledging the existence of a problem affecting men?

> ... then that is their problem, as individuals ...

I agree, but the society needs to acknowledge that it actually IS a genuine problem for these men. We can then encourage the development and adoption of technological solutions, such as sexual VR and sexbots. It might not be the ideal solution for these men, but at least it's a solution (and it puts no responsibility on women to do anything).

I don't think anything that has come out of the MRA/Petersonian fringe is helping though.

There certainly is problems with men/masculinity in society, it's both sad and tragic, as illustrated by the tragic suicide of Scott Hutchison a couple of weeks back. I'm convinced that all these people who think they're sticking up for men are only making things worse though.

The answer doesn't lie in blaming female empowerment.

What do you mean?

I wont say its entirely society's fault, but we cant just ignore the problem. As that leads to Brexit, Trump,etc.

I would argue that there are profound differences too between institutional racism and male sexual resentment.

Of course, institutional racism is several orders of magnitude more severe.

(Update: wow, I get downvoted for this. Nice!)