When I began this blog six years ago, the Men’s Rights Movement was little more than a curiosity. I’ve watched, with both amusement and alarm, as this small movement has inspired, and ultimately has been eclipsed by, a broader anti-feminist, anti-woman backlash, online and off, driven largely by the same white male rage.
Each new iteration of this backlash has been more toxic — and, sadly, more influential — than the last, ultimately culminating in the rise of the alt-right. Which is to say, the newest incarnation of fascism.
Now the openly racist, openly misogynistic idol of the alt-right has been elected president. Obviously, not everyone who voted for Trump was white or male. But his candidacy was powered in large part by the same kind of white male rage I have been writing about virtually every day for the last six years.
While Trump’s election is, without question, a catastrophe — in ways I will be chronicling in detail over the next few months and years — Trumpism isn’t built to last. Trump’s victory was a narrow one — indeed, he actually lost the popular vote — and the demographic group that served as the backbone of his movement (white men) is shrinking relative to those groups Trump has railed against.
In many ways, Trumpism seems to be a classic example of an “extinction burst,” a term used by behavior psychologists to describe a weird and seemingly paradoxical pattern of behavior. As Popsugar summed it up in a post earlier this week:
[W]hen a certain type of behavior or action isn’t really getting its desired results any longer — say, a child’s tantrums failing to get Mom or Dad’s attention — there’s often a period when a subject struggles even harder, makes more noise, and generally throws an extremely loud fit. In other words, extinction burst is that last-ditch ramping up before an inevitable flame-out.
Trumpism, like all backlashes, is doomed to fail. Unfortunately, it is likely to do a tremendous amount of damage before it goes, not so gently, into that good night. In the meantime, I will do my best to make sense of the toxic stew of racism and misogyny at the heart of Trumpism, and to provide support for those fighting against it or just trying to get by). And so I’ve changed the tagline of this blog from “the new misogyny, tracked and mocked” to “surviving the Trumpocalypse” to reflect this broader focus.
Don’t worry: I will still be writing about MGTOWs and MRAs and the other strange misogynistic creatures that I’ve been writing about from the beginning. While I recognize they are but a sideshow in the era of Trump, I just can’t quit them, and I suspect that a lot of you can’t either.
So, dot usage is a manospherian calling card? It could be that I like dots?
No, I didn’t give you a check off list of being a racist or a troll. What I gave you was a difference of opinion. You took my opinion as a attack. You then stated that my friend doesn’t know what’s in his best interests (so then I suppose you do).
You then claimed that I trivialized everyone’s fear; and, quite frankly, I did. This isn’t some third world dictatorship; this is the United States. There isn’t going to be a lynch mob, no one is going to be deported, the world isn’t going to frigging end. Honestly, not a dang thing is probably going to change.
I did enjoy pulling out your hatred for rural Americans by using words like “y’all”. I didn’t expect it to be as easy as it was, but thanks.
Shorter Val:
You’re being hysterical by being scared for your lives
Me and mine are being rational by being uncertain about our livelihoods
@thread,
Doe’s Valerie’s narrative remind anyone else of Mrs Chad’s? The details have changed, but we still have gotten to the bit where our heroine is confronted by the evil gatekeepery forces of Mammothry.
I still think both are works of fiction.
@Val
I’ve lived in Georgia for 20 years, the vast majority of my life. Y’all is my 3rd most used word around here after ‘fuckin’ and ‘bruh’. Ain’t nobody’s given me any shit about it since I got here. Maybe it ain’t ya diction. Maybe it’s you. Maybe…
@Valerie
I have honestly tried to explain why people are upset, that is all. You claim to have “listened to both sides”. I honestly don’t think you have been hearing what some–only some–of those on the right have been saying. The KKK is celebrating, Valerie. Those horrible alt-Right people that David has been talking about for several years here are dancing in the streets. They are not the fevered imaginings of silly people. They are real. You claim to have read this blog for years. You should know that.
Are all of Trump’s supporters like them? Of course not. But as someone my son read about today said, “No of course all Trump supporters are not racists. But the obvious racism (and I’ll add sexism) of Trump was not a deal breaker for them. That is a problem. It’s a big problem.
Who is supposed to stop abuse of minorities, Valerie? Trump’s administration? Surely you aren’t that naïve. The people who were willing to vote for a racist sexist? Really? I mean, I’m glad all the people you know are nice people and hopefully will stand up for racial and sexual minorities if a bunch of Trumpistas decide that him winning means it’s open season on them. But will they? Will you?
Yeah. If it’s not Gert or one of the numerous other jackass sealions we’ve had, it’s MRAL/Steele/Mikael Varpole/Torvus Butthorn/Mrs Chad Skyboomrooster/who the fuck even knows how many other socks.
I have no objection to the use of the word “y’all”; as a matter of fact, I think that English has been in dire need of a second-person plural pronoun ever since we lost “thou” and “ye”. I was raised in the South myself.
Between accusations of hysteria, “I’m not racist ’cause I’ve got a Native American friend”, and “You’re just as bad as the Trumpians”, (at least you’ve found a way to feel superior to both) I shall have to judge you a troll, @valerie.
You do realize there’s still people alive from when lynching was more common, right? I mean, the last recorded lynching that involved the KKK was in 1981 so I don’t know why people wouldn’t be afraid of getting lynched; people are, in fact, deported all the time, that’s not even disputable; and, like, you do realize a man who got so pissy about some reporter making a comment on his hand size, he brought his hand and dick size up in multiple speeches, and he’ll possibly be in the White House with the power to declare war and send nuclear warheads to whoever, right?
You tell me you aren’t worried about an impulsive, hothead like Dump with bombs at his fingertips? You sure got faith.
@weirwoodtreehugger: communist bonobo
I summon the great and calculating GlaDos version Super Fucking Hard Chairs to divine the true face of the troll. But really I hope she’s doing alright.
@Valerie
Let me tell you a story. There was a boy named Oogly. Oogly often had trouble interacting with people and struggled to make friends. One day Oogly made the decision to impulsively talk about school subjects to another person, let’s call him Z. Over the years Oogly and Z grew quite close, talking of multiple subjects and supporting each other when our families aren’t being exactly kind and understanding. Oogly gained friends from Z and his time in school was fun.
Then Oogly went to college, and that’s when it all came crashing down. For the entire semester Oogly’s best friend, someone he cared for deeply to the point where he felt uncomfortable, someone who helped him in his darkest moments revealed his true colors. The distilled bile that came from his texts revealed darkness that hates men, women and children of all stripes other than his incel like groups. For the entire semester Oogly argued nonstop with Z, Oogly taking the side of helping others and Z taking the side of fucking the poor and minorities with suffering and death. Oogly often argued nonstop with every dirty and clean trick in the book in attempts to make Z change his mind while he tried to understand Z. Oogly often wondered why Z would often make the claim he is over women but cites MGTOW and his obsession with virginity.
One afternoon, a school shooting happened. Oogly thought that in this case, for once Z would show some form of empathy. Z laughed maniacally like a terrorist laying waste to impure people living lives and despised life. Oogly when he argued knew that there were some lines he would not cross, that moment he didn’t care. Oogly said some dark things, things that pry apart and poke and squeeze at Z’s mental soft spots. Oogly continued to do so in every argument, every sacred line was crossed until they reached a breaking point.
When Z and Oogly decided to take a month off like a bad relationship, Oogly wanted desperately for his friend to not be the mirror opposite of him. Oogly wanted to feel like he can love his friend again after cracking under the effect of a crippling undiagnosed depression episode. When that month was over, Z did not change one bit. Z in fact became more hateful and sadistic. Oogly realized something terrible when Z came back with his horrid views. If Oogly was a girl, Z would have said and done horrible things in revenge. Oogly realized that there was no hope. Oogly then had no choice but to block Z on every channel, not even saying goodbye.
I know about seeing both sides. I also know that just because there are two sides, that does not mean both sides are equal. I know of getting outside my own bubble, and it is not pretty. If one wants to change from being a bigot it requires a high level of introspection that is painful to do. But most importantly that person needs to be someone willing to take that chance to change. I don’t see it from you, and from what you posted, I don’t believe your family or friends would ever take that chance.
@Valerie
If you really had been lurking, it would be probable that you’d seen at least some of my posts–and I use “y’all” on a fairly regular basis. Honestly, I thought you might accuse me of being condescending by calling you “darlin'”, and while I don’t do that online very much, I tend to use it and similar monikers of affection in meatspace.
That aside, I would say you smell fishy, but now I want some salmon. Gah.
I associate Y’all with the south more than I do with rural people. Here in Minnesota, I’ve almost never heard anyone say y’all in either the cities or the rural towns. The only people I’ve known who say it are from the south. Sometimes cities in the south. I don’t say y’all myself considering I’m such a northerner but I don’t give a rat’s ass if someone else says it. I barely even notice it. I have also never seen anyone here be bothered by the word. That’s a pretty weak thing for the concerned sock to act concerned about.
Otrame, thank you for responding nicely; I really appreciate it. I know that the KKK endorsed Trump, and don’t you think that angers me? Of course it does. But, there is no turning back now; he won. All I have been trying to say is that everyone has to work together now, so that the nasty, far right, hateful monsters don’t get their way. If the left and right keep fighting, what is going to happen here? I think that the vast majority of Americans are good people (left and right), and we all want what’s best, we are good people. Don’t live in fear, instead, live to make sure that the apocalypse that you so fear does NOT happen.
No reason we can’t do both.
@Troubelle: Moonbeam Malcontent
Have you ever had a Salmon Sandwich with some sea salt seasonings with garlic bread, Iceberg lettuce, oxheart tomatoes? Let me tell you hot or cold that combination is like a little slice of heaven for me. Or pan seared salmon with the skin still on with some aparagus sauteed with clam oil and other concoctions from a local asian supermarket? If you haven’t you should give it a try. Mind you it might be a bit too salty at times but when it’s done right, it is so right.
@Laugher at Bigots, Mincing Betaboy
Preach it.
@Val
Have you considered the fact that Hillary has the popular vote? Have you considered the fact that minorities picked her and white people of all brackets overwhelmingly chose Trump? Does that not strike you as reason to give pause?
@Ooglyboggles
You’re making me more hungry -_-; And a) it’s past curfew and b) I can’t drive to the grocery store.
Still, for another day, that sounds good. I don’t think there are any Asian markets round here, though.
Work together to do what, Valerie?
@wwth:
To palliate the worries of underprivileged classes with vain repetition of empty platitudes, of course!
@WWTH
Yep. NY or GA, I’ve never lived in a rural area. In fact, this is the farthest from a major city I’ve ever lived and it’s a 10 minute drive from my house to the Atlanta perimeter. Without traffic. Also, y’all is a common term in AAVE or Ebonics, a dialect in which I’m conversational. So, besides being a diversionary tactic, Val doesn’t even know what the fuck she’s talking about. Go figure
I’ve been trying to popularise “y’all” for many years now, because English needs a second-person plural.
(We also need a gender-neutral third-person plural, now that “they” has become the accepted gender-neutral third-person singular. But I digress.)
Also, Val? As one privileged white person to another, please check your privilege on this one. You’re embarrassing yourself.
I have read some of the election thread from 2012, and nobody then was afraid for their lives!
Not even I, who was a big fan of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh back then, was afraid for my life when Obama won re-election! I was upset, to be sure, but not afraid for my life! Even at my furthest right, I was never afraid of white genocide. There was no analogue to the renewed acts of violence against blacks, Muslims, LGBTs, &c. we see today.
Wow, it’s like the last presidential administration, where the incoming president-elect was starting to take effect immediately, rather than waiting for inauguration. Except instead of the president-elect immediately taking action to blunt and avert a countrywide economic crisis, this one is confirming one-by-one all the worst fears of their behavior revealed over the past year and a half.
I think I might have to make this my internet home, now.
Hi all. I’ve been busy sorting through the news. Reading all the comments on here and other sites, and sometimes responding. Putting together the big picture as well as I’m able. Explaining to worried family what’s going on, since most of them barely follow politics. It’s gotten to be too time-consuming to keep up with it all, and more than a little exhausting.
I’m bugging out for the weekend. Going on something like a hedonistic bender. Probably won’t involve drinking or drugs or anything like that, I have better ways. My boyfriend says that I’m the kind of person who sometimes needs an “ecstatic reset” as he calls it, and that I always look “gloriously radiant” afterward. All I know for sure is that it drains the stress away, and I probably need it pretty badly right now. So, later dudes and dudettes and non-binary dudearinos.
Welcome, Ray of Rays.
Enjoy your hedonism, Snowberry.
https://www.change.org/p/electoral-college-electors-electoral-college-make-hillary-clinton-president-on-december-19
just to say David, that I think your ‘switch’ of emphasis is right and that they are indeed related. Obviously laughing at these clowns does us little good.
You’ve been an awesome ally to women David and I know you won’t forget this fight.