WTF is a MGTOW? A Glossary

On this blog, MRA does not stand for Magnetic Resonance Angiography

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.

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Argenti Aertheri
Argenti Aertheri
10 years ago

*were
*expected
Etc

I’m making coffee now, please pardon my inability to English.

CR Williams (@CRWilliams00)

Wow, you feminists have such an entitlement complex that you attack men for going their own way now too.

You have obviously project your own entitlements on men. Case point, you idiots have your equal opportunity yet you still think that you are entitled to be paid the same amount for some useless job as a man who does do a useful and dangerous job. You sit there and tell us that we can’t judge you based on your sexual value to us yet you do that to us all the time. You sit there and have no problem demanding that men take you out on expensive dates and then you get the one misguided soul that does then you mock him for it. Meanwhile you jump into the bed with some of the biggest losers and then wonder why you have 15 kids from 10 different dudes and some how it is other peoples’ fault and responsibility to support you. You sit there and demand everyone else pay for your birth control and then have the gall to tell some sap who may have shelled out $100 on a dinner for you that he is an “entitled asshole” to expect sex? You falsely accuse men of rape, ruining their lives and when it comes to light the woman blatantly lied there is silence on your part.

You have the gall to tell men going overseas to places where they are in constant harms way serving their nation that they would have no idea how oppressed women are.

You have the gall to sit there and destroy every aspect of society that you feminist force your way into and act shocked when some don’t want you there?

Yeah, Men Going Their Own Way makes perfect sense in this world and the proof that you feminists do not want equality and really need a man to survive is evident by your attacks on MGTOW.

taitaisanchez
10 years ago

You are. Because it’s not my job to like you. It’s not anyone’s job to fuck you. It’s your job to find people who like you, for yourself. I’ve had lots of people I wanted to spend time with (and by no means all of them in a sexual way) not give a shit about me.

Pecunium, please give me the benefit of the doubt and finish reading the whole thread. It’s not as bad as it sounds 😐

You have obviously project your own entitlements on men. Case point, you idiots have your equal opportunity yet you still think that you are entitled to be paid the same amount for some useless job as a man who does do a useful and dangerous job. You sit there and tell us that we can’t judge you based on your sexual value to us yet you do that to us all the time. You sit there and have no problem demanding that men take you out on expensive dates and then you get the one misguided soul that does then you mock him for it. Meanwhile you jump into the bed with some of the biggest losers and then wonder why you have 15 kids from 10 different dudes and some how it is other peoples’ fault and responsibility to support you. You sit there and demand everyone else pay for your birth control and then have the gall to tell some sap who may have shelled out $100 on a dinner for you that he is an “entitled asshole” to expect sex? You falsely accuse men of rape, ruining their lives and when it comes to light the woman blatantly lied there is silence on your part.

WHAT THE BLOODY FUCK DOES THIS MEAN?!

Argenti Aertheri
Argenti Aertheri
10 years ago

Taitaisanchez — I’m going to guess that part of pecunium’s response was it being 3 am here and him having worked 12 hours. He’ll probably give my comment enough thought to realize he was a bit hasty, I wouldn’t worry about it much.

“You have the gall to tell men going overseas to places where they are in constant harms way serving their nation that they would have no idea how oppressed women are.”

Go to hell. That’s why male veterans can be feminists eh? (Hint, there’s one here, and my veteran cousin’s mother was second wave and a black panther, please, go try telling him that)

Frankly, I’m thinking that men serving in the US’s current wars see first hand how oppressed women are. The Taliban isn’t exactly feminist.

Unless you’ve served in war, or have a loved one who has, you have NO FUCKING CLUE and no right, none whatsoever, to use their service to push your agenda.

Argenti Aertheri
Argenti Aertheri
10 years ago

Actually, let me revise that.

Until you’ve personally, served in war, you have no right to use their service to push your agenda. IMO, service members loved ones can use their service to push for things that benefit veterans and active duty soldiers, but not general agendas.

As my favorite soldier has told me, you can’t understand it unless you where there. (Guys, should it summon him to deal with this tool, or not worth it?)

taitaisanchez
10 years ago

Argenti – This guy doesn’t even know that the ban on women in infantry has been repealed. So I don’t know how much it would matter. This reads like copy/paste.

gelar
gelar
10 years ago

WHAT THE BLOODY FUCK DOES THIS MEAN?!

I dunno about you, but it means I need more coffee. All that’s sticking to my mind is, “that’s not what the wage gap is.”

Argenti Aertheri
Argenti Aertheri
10 years ago

It’s certainly just a list of talking points, this is all old news. Certainly the only part of that rant that was remotely about feminism was that yep, birth control should be covered under insurance just like every other prescription.

“WHAT THE BLOODY FUCK DOES THIS MEAN?!”

That he(?) hates women.

——

15 kids by 10 father? O HAI welfare shaming (and sounds like a racist dog whistle)

Make work? NWO did that one ages ago, and far better than that. Women get paid less for the same job with the same experience

Judge based on sexual value? Believe it or not women, afaik, don’t have a scale akin to HB10. And *gasp* tastes vary!

Demand expensive dinners? Um, what feminist has ever done that? No, really. And the MRM claims to be anti-feminist, not anti-woman!

Call you entitled for thinking you’ve bought sex by buying dinner? RAPETASTIC. Women People have a right to decline sex, for whatever reason. If you can’ teal with that, don’t go doing things you’ll feel entitled to sex for having done.

False rape accusations? Well under 10% of accusations are unfounded — which does not mean false, that includes cases where there isn’t enough evidence or it doesn’t meet the legal definition of rape in that jurisdiction (FBI stats) — and that rate is no higher than for any other crime.

Anything else I can debunk for you this morning?

Argenti Aertheri
Argenti Aertheri
10 years ago

*hands gelar coffee* that’s going to be strong, it’s been sitting in the French press for 8 hours

Λυνα
Λυνα
10 years ago

Wow, you feminists have such an entitlement complex that you attack men for going their own way now too.
The problem with men going their own way is not their vow of celibacy, it’s that they’ve decided to use the time they’ve freed from trying to attract a partner and use it to attack women’s rights and spew bile at feminists.

You have obviously project your own entitlements on men. Case point, you idiots have your equal opportunity yet you still think that you are entitled to be paid the same amount for some useless job as a man who does do a useful and dangerous job.
Generally we believe that we should receive the same pay for the same work, rather than doing the same jobs and not being paid as much because of sexist rationalizations.

You sit there and tell us that we can’t judge you based on your sexual value to us yet you do that to us all the time. You sit there and have no problem demanding that men take you out on expensive dates and then you get the one misguided soul that does then you mock him for it. Meanwhile you jump into the bed with some of the biggest losers and then wonder why you have 15 kids from 10 different dudes and some how it is other peoples’ fault and responsibility to support you.
Simply being a woman does not automatically grant persons the title of feminist, there are women who are misogynist and women who are indifferent towards their rights unfortunately. I have not heard any feminist claim that we should make fun of men for going out with us, and I doubt anyone who did say that would get much support. Because it’s crazy. That is a crazy thing to say. If this happened to you, I am sorry, however that does not mean that women aren’t human and therefore undeserving of human rights.
Equally pregnancy is the result of the actions of two people, and if it was consensual, and therefore the responsibility of both parties. However as I see it, you’re trying to use this point as soap box to attack social programs that provide assistance to people in such a situation, at which I ask you: is it better for the state to allow children of struggling parents to simply suffer for simply being born into a poor situation, or provide assistance to them in the hopes that they might have a stable upbringing and an equal opportunity for success?

You sit there and demand everyone else pay for your birth control and then have the gall to tell some sap who may have shelled out $100 on a dinner for you that he is an “entitled asshole” to expect sex?
If you shell out money with the expectation of receiving sex in return, why do you not simply hire a prostitute? Wouldn’t that be the more logical option? Also if you want to claim that dating is purely a business transaction, then would the transaction not be for the time spent enjoying the meal together?

You falsely accuse men of rape, ruining their lives and when it comes to light the woman blatantly lied there is silence on your part.
I have not done this, nor do I believe this is an appropriate thing to do. If you are going to make such a claim you would need to provide some sort of evidence of this happening, and provide evidence of it being the fault of feminists in particular.

You have the gall to tell men going overseas to places where they are in constant harms way serving their nation that they would have no idea how oppressed women are.
There are women who risk their lives in foreign lands, not just in the military, but also as part of relief efforts such as the ones currently in the Philippines. These women often face risk not just of injury by hostile agents and disease, but also rape from both ally and foe, something that men rarely face. By ignoring, denying, and marginalizing these women, you are preventing them from being able to access the channels that could possibly allow them to see justice done.

Argenti Aertheri
Argenti Aertheri
10 years ago

Well that was convinent. My favorite veteran emailed me just as I was debating telling him of this stupidity!

Λυνα
Λυνα
10 years ago

It appears that wordpress has decided to eat my quoteblocks.

Argenti Aertheri
Argenti Aertheri
10 years ago

Λυνα — it’s not a crazy thing to say. A crazy thing to say is “please commit me, e people spying on me won’t get me in here” (a friend of a friend, bipolar, manic psychosis) or my rants about how everyone would be better off if I were dead. That line, that you quoted, is stupid, pigheaded, and a bunch more, but not indicative of mental illness.

Thanks.

Λυνα
Λυνα
10 years ago

Argenti – This guy doesn’t even know that the ban on women in infantry has been repealed.

See, the thing is that even without it repealed women who worked as part of deployed MASH and CSH units were also, out of necessity, positioned in war zones, putting them at significant risk as well. So it’s not as though female soldier deaths were unheard of prior to that.

Λυνα
Λυνα
10 years ago

Λυνα — it’s not a crazy thing to say. A crazy thing to say is “please commit me, e people spying on me won’t get me in here” (a friend of a friend, bipolar, manic psychosis) or my rants about how everyone would be better off if I were dead. That line, that you quoted, is stupid, pigheaded, and a bunch more, but not indicative of mental illness.

I meant crazy as in illogical or nonsensical, not in the sense of being indicative of mental illness. I’m sorry if it offended, it’s just used so often that way in my circle of friends that I tend to forget the other connotations of it.

CassandraSays
CassandraSays
10 years ago

I personally would be delighted if MGTOW would actually go. What’s stopping you? Do you need us to send you a map?

pecunium
10 years ago

taitsanchez: Argenti – This guy doesn’t even know that the ban on women in infantry has been repealed.

Not quite. They are still doing “studies”. The Marine Corps is leading the way (having graduated the first women from Infantry School, and are about to do the same again). But the integration into units won’t happen sooner than 2016.

But the telling comment was Panetta’s at his confirmation hearing, he spoke of, “ending the official ban”. Women have been in functional combat roles since at least 2003. Not in the role of “incidental”, where an attack on an installation meant some had to take up arms (with the rest of the “cooks and bakers”), but in places where combat was not only possible, but expected.

And women do just fine. One of the best grenadiers (using an M-203) I know was a woman. And a small one at that.

As to the other: I had read all of it. I still see a fundamental aspect of the concept being glossed. It doesn’t mean I think you are a bad person, but I do thin

pecunium
10 years ago

CRWilliams: Wow, you feminists have such an entitlement complex that you attack men for going their own way now too.

Nope. We mock them for saying they are going their own way, and then spending huge amounts of time, and effort, complaining about how awful women are. They aren’t going their own way. They are engaging in a variant of, “I’m going to hold my breath until my face turns blue if you don’t give me what I want,” which is deservedly mockworthy.

you idiots have your equal opportunity yet you still think that you are entitled to be paid the same amount for some useless job as a man who does do a useful and dangerous job.

Care to show where anyone has said, “Women who are doing make work need to be paid the same as Fire Dept. Battalion Chiefs? Because what we are arguing for is the same pay, for the same work; which isn’t happening.

You sit there and tell us that we can’t judge you based on your sexual value to us yet you do that to us all the time.

Whut? Seriously, could make that into a coherent thought, because I try to parse it and all I get is gibberish.

You sit there and have no problem demanding that men take you out on expensive dates and then you get the one misguided soul that does then you mock him for it.

Where are feminists insisting men need to take them on expensive dates, and then mocking them for doing so?

Meanwhile you jump into the bed with some of the biggest losers and then wonder why you have 15 kids from 10 different dudes and some how it is other peoples’ fault and responsibility to support you.

Oh Lord. There is so much stupidity, lazing thinking and pointless perjoration in that I barely know where to start.

1: Are you seriously arguing women get pregnant so society will, “support them?
2: Are you seriously arguing that what is treated as being culturally less than perfect, “biggest losers” is a moral failing such that those who are involved with them need to be punished by association?
2: 15 kids? Even ignoring the slut-shaming of, “10 dudes”*, that’s a ridiculous number, meant to make the woman look inherently irresponsible; and ties into the, “welfare queen” trope. It’s not only a stupid claim, it’s sloppy rhetoric.

You sit there and demand everyone else pay for your birth control and then have the gall to tell some sap who may have shelled out $100 on a dinner for you that he is an “entitled asshole” to expect sex?

Wait… is this Rush? Are you hitting the Oxycontin again? No one is demanding, ‘someone else pay for birth control’. We are demanding it get treated like any other drug: covered by insurance, and provided by pharamacists, just like Viagra.

As to the second half, that’s a non-sequitur, and more revealing about you than you probably realise. The use of locution, “shells out” implies you see a date as a transactional endeavor. When I “shell out” money for something, I expect to get something in return. That you complain women aren’t fucking in exhange for you, “shelling out” on a date means you see sex as something you can buy for the price of a mediocre supper in a loud room, cooked by someone else and served by a flunky.

That’s not it. What you are paying for isn’t access to her pussy, it’s the mediocre supper in the loud room, and the pleasure of her company while you eat it. Because, my little man-child, no one is entitled to sex.

You have the gall to tell men going overseas to places where they are in constant harms way serving their nation that they would have no idea how oppressed women are.

Oh really? How long were you in the Army? Where did you serve? Were you more than just a fobbit?

Because, oddly enough, on of the places where women get the same pay for the same work, is the Army. And, (speaking from experience) most men in the army, have no fucking clue how oppressed women are.

You have the gall to sit there and destroy every aspect of society that you feminist force your way into and act shocked when some don’t want you there?

Whut? The greatest harm I see happening to society is in these six charts and one of the most interesting aspects of it is that the causes for those effects are all driven by the actions and decisions of men. Men who have actively resisted women being allowed to play in their clubhouses. So on balance, you got it wrong (which means so far you are batting 1.000)

Yeah, Men Going Their Own Way makes perfect sense in this world and the proof that you feminists do not want equality and really need a man to survive is evident by your attacks on MGTOW.

You know what this sentence needs? Some perspective, let me help you.

Yeah, Feminism makes perfect sense in this world and the proof that you Men Going Their Own Way do not want equality and really need women to survive is evident by your attacks on feminism.

Because, my bully-boy, you aren’t going your own way. You got up before eight and, before you headed off to work, decided you needed to find a feminist to bash. You seem to have a “failure to launch” with the “Going” part of Your Own Way.

*Do you have the same disdain for men? I’ve had a lot more than 10 partners, am I a worthless person because of it? Has it worn my pecker down to a nub that no woman can get satisfaction from?

CassandraSays
CassandraSays
10 years ago

@ pecunium

FWIW, I agree. Sorry, taitaisanchez, but I don’t think you’re being honest with yourself about what the implications of the whole incel idea are.

Argenti Aertheri
Argenti Aertheri
10 years ago

“Has it worn my pecker down to a nub that no woman can get satisfaction from?”

*dies*

*thinks about it for a sec* I think I’m just shy of ten. Are we including non-consensual and/or oral? Cuz that changes my count, to a handful (hm, I might break 10 if oral counts…)

I’m officially a slut! *dons slut cap* guys, can I be an ElderSlut? Please?

Viscaria
Viscaria
10 years ago

It is weird that dudes who are terrified of being tricked into paying support to *gasp* feed and house their own children are also so often upset about having to shoulder some of the financial costs of BC. Also, like, insurance premiums and/or healthcare taxes will always pay for treatments that you will personally never need. That’s… that’s like… the entire point.

On the topic of birth control: I have been so so happy with my IUD! A++, would painfully shove up into my internal organs again. I no longer experience nausea on a frequent basis, I haven’t been as depressed (though there are other factors that might have influenced that to be fair), I rarely menstruate at all anymore, and it is impossible to miss a dose.

pecunium
10 years ago

Λυνα See, the thing is that even without it repealed women who worked as part of deployed MASH and CSH units were also, out of necessity, positioned in war zones, putting them at significant risk as well. So it’s not as though female soldier deaths were unheard of prior to that.

Not quite. A “combat zone” is a big thing, and being in one doesn’t mean one is actually in harm’s way. What it means is some weapon of the enemy can reach you. Kuwait is, actually, still considered a combat zone, even though the weapons which were capable of reaching the US bases in Kuwait have all been dismantled.

And everyone is subject to that risk, be they a file clerk in finance, a laundry and bath specialist in the Quartermasters, or an infantry dude in Corps Headquarters; 50 miles behind the lines.

The risk to being in a MASH is greater than that of being in a CSH; which is why we don’t deploy so many MASH units anymore; that and the more widespread medical expertise of medics, combat lifesavers and the crew on dust-offs. The M in mobile is also pretty hard to maintain, while having a truly effective medical installation. The extra ten minutes to get them a to a CSH location isn’t worth the loss of capability.

And women get the same rewards for being in a combat zone that every other troop does. They get the hash-marks, and the combat patches, and the extra pay. So I don’t have a real problem with that aspect of it.

What has been happening is they get told, “You can’t be in the Artillery, or the SF, or the Infantry, or in Armor, just because you are a woman, and will screw things up”.

That’s bullshit. It was bullshit when they said it to blacks, it is bullshit when they say it to women.

pecunium
10 years ago

CRWilliams: Oh, I missed this one: You falsely accuse men of rape, ruining their lives and when it comes to light the woman blatantly lied there is silence on your part.

Who is the, “you” in that sentence? Are we engaged in collective guilt on the part of women for the few who are guilty of accusations of false rape (one was just sentenced in Michigan, she deserves what she got)?

Because if you want to go there, it’s gonna get ugly. Why? Because there are a lot more rapes than their are false accusations; and the vast majority of rapes are committed by… you guessed it, men.

So, you can either blame people for the crimes they commit (which is what I do), and take such precautions as you feel are required to be safe against those crimes which you fear*, or you can accept that men rape women, and you are man, so QED you might be a rapist.

*if the crime you fear is an accusation of false rape, I suggest you never go out alone with a woman, always allow her to bring a companion when you are with a woman in a potentially “romantic” situation, always get a written declaration (notarised, in front of a witness) prior to any alone time, saying that she is presently planning to have sexual relations with you; and establishing that the encounter will be filmed, to be placed in escrow; in “the cloud” with private keys held by a third party, so that it can be entered into evidence in the event one, or the other of you, feels the acts engaged in were violative; or in the event a claim consent was revoked is made.

That, or be completely safe and fuck your fist instead; I’m pretty sure Rosie ain’t gonna say you raped her.

Ally S
10 years ago

I think it’s amusing that so many anti-feminists bring up the disproportionate number of men in the military as proof that misandry is a thing. While ignoring the fact that, in most wars, civilians suffer the most, and since men are more likely to fight in those wars than anyone else, that means that women and other non-male people are far more likely to suffer. Especially since systematic rape is an almost universal aspect of war.

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