@chadinthemaking69 @adam-l

How do you spot a psychopath when they have such well crafted and unbreakable masks?

Very diligent attention to congruence and follow through on promises and duties. A look at their long term friends and relationships... the notable lack of any is a big red flag. A history of drama and scorched earth breakups. If people who know her well give you a glance of pity at the news of you getting closer to her.

Most important to all men: Not letting your little head override your better judgment in pursuit of some nookie. That was my failing that time decades ago now when I ignored red flags about the psychopath I was starting to ldate and the ending of her last relationship. Six months and not enough good sex to make it worthwhile later, she was successfully breaking into my house as I slept AFTER screwing all the doors and windows shut from the inside.

Goes to show that even a man who fancies himself smart and identifies the red flags in advance will still blunder right into the clutches of a psychopath woman IF he doesn't watch his own ass.

@Aging-Chad I see, thanks for filling that in.

Perhaps there exists a different affinity you could find a niche in, or if not exercise some leadership and form one.

At one point growing up we got involved with a YMCA based camping group. Not only was this great for us kids; the Dads got a decent social group out of the whole thing. Also think sports including things like mountain biking and motorsports, where unlike Team sports which involve a huge commitment of practice and other support work, you're doing the prime activity much of the time spent.

You don't need to convert "all" the Dads and families in town, just 2 or 3 to start who aren't already prejudiced against you. This gives you a chance to reform your reputation over time as people who actually see you as you are mingle with the biased ones and departures from reality in your reputation end up getting corrective feedback applied in absentia.

I really do recommend camping in particular. So many great childhood memories, and it's a place where your Dad and Man skills can really shine.

@MentORPHEUS

I enjoyed Avatar a lot. The no 2 is boring, but still ok.

Up to a decade ago, you could have BP films that were still good because they were... relaxed? That's the best word I can come up with at the moment. They were saved by their reference to humanitarian values.

Current movies single-mindedly push for wokeism, that presumptuous pseudo-progressiveness that is stomach-churning for anyone sane.

Btw, it currently seems that all progressiveness is pseudo-progressiveness, and were it not for some true progressives of the Men's Rights Movement, most notably the psychologist Herb Goldberg (of The Hazzards of being Male), Warren Farrell and Esther Vilar, one might conclude that this were indeed true in general.

So, returning to the issue, the current cultural production is as hair-raising as any Nazi cultutal movement. You have to search for exceptions, if you want to relax and watch something that's worth its time.

@adam-l

difficult to find something barely watchable

I know what you mean. Not sure about the new release but the original Avatar was pushing too many left and mystical themes even for my nature-hippie sensibilities. Still a great watch, and this brings up a general question. Take a movie like Titanic where the characters are steeped in Blue Pill themes and actions but it's a compelling story and cinematic masterpiece.

Are you able to let it go enough to enjoy immersion in the story? Or do you find a low threshold for a hint of annoying BP theme to completely ruin the experience?

One personal example, way back in the 80s long before I knew the first thing about RP concepts, I remember feeling annoyance at the way they tried to woman-empower the character's notorious womanizing nature. Still enjoyed the action sequences but it diminished any sense of becoming a James Bond fan.

@RedPirate751 Hopefully at this hour you are out with Girl2 and in the moment, not affected by girl1 even though the date was a bit disquieting.

when you guys are feeling off (for whatever reason, not necessarily the same as my story here) do you pull back a bit or do you get after it again immediately?

Depends what you mean by off. For routine ups and downs it's good practice and self discipline to forget ahead.

For real stressful times in life, as in 300+ on the Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory, you really should tend to your own mental and emotional well-being. Trying to stoically power through can become counterproductive to your health at these levels of stress.

This is something a bit at odds with ideals of masculinity, thus it's something men end up struggling to address in themselves, much less ever talk about among themselves. Thus it bottles up and if you try to keep it that way it WILL eventually lead to real mental and even physical health issues. This, no matter how strong and balanced you are during average and good times of life.

I will admit there was a time in the not so distant past when I was dealing with so much stress and change and loss, 550 level. At one point I found myself crying in the canned goods aisle at Kroger when Don't stop believin' was playing quietly on the intercom. Rather than try to bury and suppress this in shame, I respected it as a signal to find channels to release the overload of emotion, and to change how much burden I would try to carry by myself. This was a positive turning point and I was able to get to a healthy equilibrium smoothly after those times settled out.

The takeaway: healthy masculinity doesn't mean treating your body and mind like you are invincible and ought to be able to handle literally everything.