So someone went to the Men’s Rights subreddit the other day to ask the assembled Men’s Rights Activists a simple question: what sort of activism do you folks do? Specifically, the visitor asked, “Do MRAs have marches or campaigns or fundraisers?”
The post didn’t get much attention, but the answers that “Chickenjuggle” got were pretty, well, instructive.
Some Men’s Rights Redditors pointed to the astounding successes of the events organized by A Voice for Men, which have drawn literally dozens of people from around the globe — that is, more people than you are likely to see waiting for a bus (except during rush hour).
Others tried to claim credit for, among other things, Movember, a month-long prostate cancer awareness campaign that most MRAs have no more connection with than I do, and for the work of various Fathers Rights organizations that MRAs, by and large, have nothing to do with.
A few pointed to fundraisers that A Voice for Men has held … for itself. (Yes, if “fundraising” is redefined to mean “sending a lot of money to Paul Elam, without knowing what exactly he even does with it,” then, yes, MRAs are pretty active fundraisers.)
And the rest mostly offered excuses.
LAMFF explained that most men have a hard time fitting activism into their busy schedule of HUNTING THE MAMMOTH TO FEED YOU:
Others darkly intimated that it was much too dangerous for them to actually get up off of their asses and march, as they might risk their balls, or at least their jobs, and possibly even their spot on the couch. (I added that last bit; it seems like it would be important to them.)
As is well-known, no other activists in the history of the world have ever put themselves willingly at risk for their ideals.
Unkleman sniffed that those silly marches were probably sour, anyway:
That bit at the end about “false facts” is an interesting slip, huh?
TRPACC, meanwhile, insisted that sitting on your ass posting comments on the internet was, in fact, activism of the highest order:
In other words, this video from SomeGreyBloke turns out not to be a parody after all, but a dead-on accurate portrayal:
But… Wait…. Watching internet porn while masturbating & swearing a blue streak about feminazis ISN’T activism? Who knew?
Actual activism would require work. Pissing and moaning “bitch did me wrong” stories is much more satisfying for some of these guys.
WHEN I saw that ‘parody” about 2 year ago ?(the gray man) I fell over laughing because how TRUE it is !
I had been asking all these men over and over after their complaints …so what are you DOING about it ? CRICKETS chirping .Their main goal seemed to be to get “feminist’ to “admit” acknowledge its real and for THEM to do something about “it” .But in general for “feminist” to admit they are NOT about equality .
Activism for them is complaining about WOMEN(what they call feminist) .NOT “men’s issues.” The few they can pull up like prostate cancer all they do is complain about why WOMEN (feminist) aren’t having marathons for that like they do breast cancer.
They virtually IGNORE prison rape . Why ? Because that is not a CRIME against men by women.
The only legitimate “activists” I have seen are separate groups ACTIVE in reform in the courts as to fathers rights which I vocally support.
I prefer the much more accurate term “Reactionary Keyboard Warriors” to such misleading phrases as “Men’s Rights Activist”.
Yep, MRAs, once they know who you are, the feminists are going to take your pets away from you. /rollseyes
Activism would require, you know, physically being active.
THEY MAY TAKE OUR PETS, BUT THEY WILL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM! BUT THEY MAY TAKE OUR PETS (somehow.) SO…NEVER MIND.
Interesting. So women who (to cite one example) wanted the vote were willing not only to march, but to risk imprisonment, to endure hunger strikes (and the response, which was often to be imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital, bound and force-fed) and to endure repeated violence in order to stand up for what they believed in. Men and women of color throughout the US south, midwest and southwest were willing to face dogs and fire hoses, beatings, bombings, rapes and executions, to secure their right to vote, to a decent wage, to their lives and ancestral lands, to safety in their workplaces?
But MRAs are content to leave snarky comments on blogs and news articles?
Oh, and to flood college health centers with anonymous false rape allegations, can’t forget that one!!
Ah, yes. Their heroic courage knows no bounds.
titanblue: When they end up in the FeministGulag, living the days of Ivan Denisovich, there pets will suffer. They’d fight for men in the streets, if they weren’t being so selfless.
Here I am, doing some activism against the evils of stereotypical social restrictions on male behavior: post about spinning yarn: with bonus video.
The pets remark is a reference to the “fact” that 40 years ago, evil feminists killed Erin Pizzey’s dog.
Which isn’t actually true. Apparently someone — she doesn’t know who — injured her dog by shooting it with, I believe, a BB gun. She has no evidence that it was feminists.
Given their views on the training of dogs, I suspect we should be taking their pets away from them …
But you have plenty of time to bitch on the internet it seems .Please don’t tell me you can’t take a day off to march ?
Buy the way “ladies ” were working their fingers to the bone in low paying lobs and in the home when they marched among other things to guarantee their rights. “Ladies” still work . So did black people . They marched . They got hosed down /arrested /beaten .
Are you trying to say women and black people got paid vacation to be active ?
I find this one really frustrating. I’ve had some discussions with folks who are MRA-adjacent (interested in the causes MRAs tend to give lip service to, but not yet so steeped with misogyny) and we always keep coming down to them trying to get me to admit that men’s problems are just as worthy as those facing women. Which I have no problem doing, really. Rape or violence against men is no less horrific and no more acceptable than that against women.
But then we hit the impasse:
“Okay, so we agree. What are you feminists going to do about it?”
“Um, I have my own issues to deal with. You organize a march and I’ll show up in solidarity, but I’m not gonna do it for you, dude.”
“SEE!!! Feminists don’t care about issues that face men!!!!!”
Sigh…
I wonder if they realize that comments like the one about the stormtroopers of the plutocracy read like complete gibberish to anyone who’s not already part of their little online lady-hating club.
Ah., yes, BB gun, the oppressor’s weapon of choice. And not at all likely to be a child’s or teenager’s.
Activism means that you never risk your ass doing anything ever. I mean, the Freedom Summer activists were just sitting at home writing letters to the editor whining for voting rights for blacks, and the First Wave feminists simply waved their fans and wished to have the right to vote, right???
Tulgey — it’s almost double speak — say you’re against men’s rights activists and it sounds like you’re against men’s rights.
So their activism is hands-on! Hands on keyboard, hands on mouse, hands on phones to harass the latest target.
Reminds me of people talking about the onerous influence of breast cancer charities. When asked why they don’t go out and help with one they sputter and talk about how pointless it is.
@davefutrelle I love the reference to real activism.
I also appreciate MRAs “keeping society running” for all of us. I mean, I’m not sure how that works or what it is that they are doing that is so indispensable but obviously if they stopped doing it, even for a day, I’m sure society would crumble like stale Christmas cake. All society, everywhere.
So I got into a little argument a few months ago on r/mr with one of the misters, where I listed all the things I’ve done politically over the years where men were the equal or even primary beneficiaries, and then challenged him to describe what he had done. (I know, it’s not really a fair argument, but sometimes I fight dirty.) He said his primary contribution to helping men was through “being a man on the internet.” I wasn’t sure whether I should laugh or cry.
Today he posted something that made it clear that he now volunteers at a homeless shelter, and he encouraged all the misters to do the same. Now, I can’t take credit for him doing something AFK (if he really is), but I like to think I at least gave him a little nudge.
titianblue – But don’t you know that men are
RandianMRA heros who hold up society for theleechers and moocherswimmens?heroes*
EXACTLY what I have experienced . Then they say you are “marginalizing ” or “dismissing’ their issues!
Do they have a mommy issue or what ? Then to turn around and say its because they are working and that’s why women need to do it FOR THEM?
Whats more apparent besides them not wanting to lift a finger besides typing on the manosphere hoe pissed they are . Is they tend to avoid any issue “men” might suffer that does not have a parallell to a woman’s issue or male on male crimes. Example sexual crimes against women . Their parrallell is “false rape charges by women against men ” NOT sexual crimes against men . Besides the new ‘women rape men too.” Get the point.l
One guy had to nerve to want to make a “men’s issue’ child abuse against men BY women. I could see that if there was a higher instance like an epidemic. But child abuse is child abuse and their is no “special cause” for little boys being abused above little girls by either gender .
My point is why would you have a “special” campaign (a march,public awareness) about specifically boys being abused by specifically women ? And I mean mothers,grandmothers,baby sitters and not sexual just abuse.
What would we do ? Organize a march to announce “women /mothers /grandmothers abuse boys !” Should we have a public safety announcement “beware some mothers abuse boys as well as girls ?”
I’m saying I think they are COVERED in child abuse prevention already . They a’rent “excluded.”
I am also pleased to hear that “this” society is being maintained by MRAs, as ladies like me are too childlike to do anything 🙁