NOTE: This page is in desperate need of revision and expansion. In the meantime, I suggest you use Rationalwiki’s Manosphere Glossary.
For newcomers to this blog, here’s a handy guide to some of the strange acronyms and lingo you’ll encounter here and in the “manosphere” in general. (For a definition of that term, see below.) I will update this entry periodically as needed.
First, the acronyms you’ll see most often here:
MRA: Men’s Rights Activist
MRM: Men’s Rights Movement
MGTOW: Men Going Their Own Way MGHOW: Man Going His Own Way.
Ok, so what do those terms mean?
MRM: The Men’s Rights Movement: A loosely defined, but largely retrograde, collection of activists and internet talkers who fight for what they see as “men’s rights.” Unlike the original Men’s Movement, which was inspired by and heavily influenced by feminism, the self-described Men’s Rights Movement is largely a reactionary movement; with few exceptions, Men’s Rights Activists (or MRAs) are pretty rabidly antifeminist, and many are frankly and sometimes proudly misogynistic. Those who oppose the MRM are generally not against men’s rights per se; they are opposed to those who’ve turned those two words into a synonym for some pretty backwards notions.
MGTOW: Men Going Their Own Way: As the name suggests, MGTOW is a lot like lesbian separatism, but for straight dudes. MGTOW often talk vaguely about seeking “independence” from western and/or consumer culture, and a few MGTOW try to live that sort of zen existence. But most of those who embrace the term have a deep hostility towards and/or profound distrust of feminists and women in general. Many MGTOW refuse to date “western women” and some try to avoid women altogether. I think the Man Going His Own Way acronym MGHOW adds another layer of confusion to an already awkward acronym, so I use MGTOWer instead.
Some other terms and acronyms you’ll run across here:
Anglosphere: Countries in which English is the primary language, or, more narrowly, those countries that used to be British colonies. They are full of evil Western Women (see below).
Incel: Involuntarily Celibate. A term, and identity, adopted by some dateless guys (as well as some women, but it’s the men we’ll focus on here). While there is nothing shameful about being dateless, or a virgin, or having a really long dry spell sexually — most of us have been there at some point — the term “involuntarily celibate” seems to suggest that the world owes incels sex, and that women who turn down incel men for dates or sex are somehow oppressing them. For those (male, straight) incels who are genuinely socially awkward or phobic, this can be a self-defeating stance that can lead to bitterness towards women. And often does.
Mangina: Derogatory term used by MRAs, MGTOW, etc. to describe guys who disagree with them — e.g., me. You can figure out the various connotations of this term yourself.
The Manosphere: The loose collection of blogs, message boards, and other sites run by and/or read by MRAs, MGTOW, and assorted friendly Pick-up Artists. The primary source of material for this blog.
NAWALT: Not All Women Are Like That. Dudes in the manosphere make so many ridiculous and untrue generalizations about women that they’ve come up with their own little acronym to describe the most common reaction to their nonsense: “not all women are like that.” Remarkably, many seem to think that making a reference to NAWALT is actually some sort of clever rebuttal of their critics.
PUA: Pick-up Artist. PUAs are obsessed with mastering what they see as the ultimate set of techniques and attitudes — known as “Game” — that will enable them to quickly seduce almost any woman they want. There is a vast literature on “game” online, though PUA (insofar as it is not complete bullshit) is at its essence simply a male version of the age-old ploy of “playing hard to get.”
Western Women: Also known as WW. Evil harpies, at least according to many in the manosphere. Contrasted with “foreign women,” a term that (in the manosphere, at least) sometimes refers to all women outside the Anglosphere, but often refers to a subset of these women from poor and/or Eastern countries, mostly Asian, who are regarded as more pliable and thus more desirable to haters of “Ameriskanks” and other WW.
Random but I had to explain the concept of laundry nets for bras to my late teens-ish neighbor a few months ago. We were both sorting laundry at the same time and he was all “what’s that?” and I was going, wow, this is awkward.
::snork::
“Protection for delicate items in the washing machine, dear.”
This is hysterical. Praetorian used to be a troll at another site. He stopped coming around there months and months ago. Now I see he is here where with his misogynist garbage. He tried to spew his ignorance and strange conspiracy crap at the other site and we eventually made him rub away. He’s a weird guy. I say avoid him.
What other site might that be? I’ve never “rubbed away” anything except mildew in the tub. Hey, there’s actually an original name for you, “mildew.” There is no misogyny or conspiracy here. Just human nature from a socio-biological perspective. This may be a conspiracy theory to you, however, men and women are different in and out, if you were not aware. Women are geared more toward shame than guilt. Men vice versa, although both possess some aspects of each. So, let’s see how far and fast the woman devolves and allows her virtue and character to plummet in a shame-less society where there is no shame for her behavior. Could a granite boulder fall any faster? Pregnancy out of wedlock (pre-feminism years) was at extremely low levels. Why? The societal and cultural shaming that would occur. Shame as well as guilt played their parts in a well ordered society. Feminism, as one of it’s primary goals, was to remove shame from the culture, therefore, women could be empowered. How? you may ask. By devolving into sub-primitives, behaviorally speaking. Not all women, just a vast majority. At least on certain levels, the lack of shame has affected all women. Feminism has brought much advancement to women, especially in character development and progression now hasn’t it?
Citation needed.
“When women act like men, that’s awful. When men act like men, that’s great. Hello, Gender Binary!”
Yes, it has. So fuck you.
Typical, resorting to profanities instead of even attempting to back up his claim of “Yes, it has.” I expect as much.
I hope these links came through.
This is a man Howard
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainment/iron-man-3-jon-favreau-not-directing-iron-man-3-47550.html
This is a woman, Howard
http://nutritionistinnyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/smiling-woman.jpg
Yes Howard they even look differently.
Firstly, yeah, but you’re not talking about sexual dimorphism, you’re talking about some extreme brain difference that causes women to become monsters unless we harm them constantly ‘for their own good.’
Again, fuck you, you fucking fuck.
Also, fuck you.
Also, THOSE AREN’T CITATIONS, fuck you.
And, in case you miss my meaning, fuck you.
Praetorian, you have provided nothing to support your argument, if it can even be called an argument — it’s just a bunch of unsupported assertions. Howard’s response to you is on point.
…although I do feel like I’m channeling the spirit of ‘fuck you’ right now.
Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing.
This is a man, Praetorian.
This is a woman, Praetorian.
(Bill Kaulitz and Agyness Deyn. Both are cis, identifying as their birth gender.)
Wow. He’s pro slut-shaming so women fall into line. We’ve never heard that one before. **sarcastic yawn**
“Feminism, as one of it’s primary goals, was to remove shame from the culture….”
Where are you getting this from, Sparky? Remember, reading is fundamental. Your boner for sexual repression for one half of the population is super creepy — and telling, all at once. I can’t imagine you’re a lot of fun at cocktail parties.
I’m also really legitimately curious as to why a 2010 article speculating about Iron Man 3 is the go-to image of what a man looks like.
Actually, katz, I understood that one perfectly. It’s Jon Favreau! When I think of one man who could be a stand-in for all of humanity…
Well, it’s not Jon Favreau.
But when I think of a person who could maybe stand in for all the dude-bros… there, I think Favreau, of course. Dude-bro!
Wait, weren’t we going to be the ones to resort to childish name calling? So why call someone mildew, if it’s a childish, silly thing to do that showcases someones inability to debate properly?
Oh, nevermind.
—
Explain to me why these events as you describe it are bad things. To me, a cat, reading it, what I see is “Feminism, as one of it’s primary goals, was to remove shame from the culture, so women could be empowered”.
How on Earth, Jupiter, Milkyway, Universal Standard Constellation 1, is that a bad thing you write off as if it’s causing the end of the world?
A world in which people get to make choices based on the merit of that choice and the impact it has on their lives is somehow worse than a world in which there is a line to adhere to and if you don’t, you’re guilted and shamed into submission?
You absolutely twit.
Hurray for the lack of guilt and shame! Hurra for the progress of non-binary choices! Huzzah for all the many ways in which you can say “De gustibus non est disputandum”! Instead of being insecure shells of people walking mental corridors with doorways barred by the generational guilt and societal inertia, you get to do what you’d like to do within reasonable limits. You get to sleep with people you fancy! A couple can have a child out of wedlock, without it being a fucking scandal! You can get pregnant without this very thing somehow being the onus of your existence!
You, Sir, are no praetorian. You are not worthy of the name. At best, I’ll make a joke and call you praestringo, which is blind, if my Latin suffices to communicate my meaning.
Feel shame for appropriate an institution you have no right to and guilt for aligning yourself with people more capable, noble and decent than you’ll ever be.
Sure, but why dig up a three-year-old news article? It doesn’t come up anywhere near the first page of results if you just google “Jon Favreau” (or even if you image search him).
You know it really is sad that someone has to explain to a human being over the age of two years that men and women are different. This is how ridiculous and weak people have allowed themselves to become due to using emotionalism instead of intellect. Here is a Time magazine article you can read. It took them awhile to realize it too. But they are liberal like you so again, it took a little intellect to realize the differences. Better late than never I always say.
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19920120,00.html
Fibinachi some of us actually work and pay taxes. I don’t want to support low lives having children out of wedlock because they live in a culture that never taught them the value in crossing their legs. I was not name calling. Since the poster’s intellect is so inferior he had to resort to an amalgamation of my own name, I merely suggested one for him that was at least unique. Have someone re-read my post to you. Removing shame does not empower unless you somehow equate empowerment with one’s devolving to a primitive level with no constraints. The intelligent person would consider this going WAY backwards instead of anywhere near forward. Obviously your IQ is in double digits since you, as others, continue to resort to childish name calling and are incapable of debating anything I’ve posted here.
Shiraz its simply called Cultural Marxism. It is but one point in it. It desires to destroy the fabric of the family, religion (because it involves shame) and culture as a whole. No necessity in posting links. Simply research Cultural Marxism.
vs.
LOL. Hey, Praetorian, what is your IQ?
And that’s real.
Howard in your immature, yet childish attempts at insults (which aren’t working) could you at least come up with a different word other than “fuck?” Link posting pending. LOL!!!
It’s a fact that those that have lowered themselves to animal levels are, in fact, “low” lives coudiah. Read the Time article. It took them awhile too to realize the differences.
Praetorian: do you have a morning height?
And now for a musical interlude.
OMG people lowering themselves to the levels of animals! We should stop doing that and reproduce entirely via artificial insemination from now on.