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.
Yeah, the turkeys I’ve seen are all urban, totally unfazed by humans or cars. It’s interesting to watch, anyway.
I miss seeing the screech owl that lived in a neighbor’s tree, back when we were kids in Texas. I miss seeing wildlife in general; we used to be a little feral woods child, badgering coral snakes and deer, and now all I see are pigeons and bunnies.
I’ve seen turkeys in the wild in Calif. Atlanta Georgia had peregrines show up because the skyscrapers they built happened to have suitable ledges.
Thank you, I came across the term manosphere, on Twitter, and I was seeking a sensible definition. You have clarified it nicely, and explained some other terms worth knowing. I guess I might be considered one of the nawalts you mentioned. Keep up the good work. 🙂
Okay auggziliary, I’m game to respond to your BS.
“No plz go your own way.”
I don’t buy that you really want men to go their own way otherwise this blog would not be so hostile to those going their own way. I think you are jealous.
“Cite”
I don’t have to cite a damn thing for you. You feminists used the whole .74 to the 1.00 figure on the overall pay which ignored many of the key factors in determining pay. It is a fact that men make up well over 90% of the workplace deaths and do the dangerous work. Moreover, men don’t take paternal leave, are more willing to travel, are physically stronger, have the technical knowledge, and are more apt to drive on then women. That is why the overall pay is that way. The only things feminists put out is cheap indoctrination and worthless halfway houses on the taxpayer’s dime.
“Cite?”
It is blatantly obvious that you don’t care about men’s sexual desires otherwise you would not get so furious at men for not dating fat disgusting slob women or you would not be turning down the geeks, so quick to throw stalker labels on others, and all of your other generalizations.
“I don’t want expensive dates. I pay equally usually, or pay for gas.”
I don’t know whether to distrust you or say you may be the exception to the rule but the rule still stands.
“Why 15 from 10?”
It seems to be in that ball park for the welfare queens. Again, the women who have way too many kids and demand everyone else pay for them is rampant in this country. You know it.
“Uh, how do you know these are the same women? And birth control is kind of a health thing.”
Uh, no it is not. Pregnancy is a natural side effect of sex. If you have sex recreationally, YOU are responsible for paying for YOUR birth control.
“And yes, expecting sex from someone paid in the first place.
who pays that much money is entitled.”
If the dude felt entitled to sex he would not have
“If he uses it as a way to ask for sex than OK,”
You feminists still chide them even then. Aside from that, the fact that YOU still seem to think that it is okay to string a guy along that way is completely messed up. Top that off, there are quite a few of you women that seem to think that you have the right to demand money, gifts, etc… from guys in exchange for nothing shows your entitlement mentality.
“but thinking it’s his right is wrong. It’s like you’ve never dated.”
Actually, used to be married and damn glad to be rid of the bitch. Had sex with a few women with in hours of meeting them. Don’t need to date to do that. If you must know, modern women are the exact reason I don’t date. You haven’t done anything to earn a date from me.
“Cite? And you realize that even most accused don’t get their lives ruined, right?”
Actually YES, their lives get RUINED. A more known incident of this is the Duke Lacrosse players that got falsely accused. Granted they were never convicted but their education was put on hold, their parents were out a great deal of money, and asshole feminists banged pots outside their homes to keep them awake at night.
Brian Banks did some time in prison for a false rape allegation.
There are many other people you do not hear of that have their lives and reputations irreversibly ruined because of those false allegations. And even if it was a rare occasion, you (nor your stupid feminist friends) don’t seem to have any scorn for the false accusers.
“Dude, fuck you.”
Yup, that is pretty much your mentality towards men. That is why many of them are rightfully going their own way. Never mind the guy who just got through risking his life to protect his country deserves a bit of respect to say the least but I have seen too many cunts talk about how bad their husbands who served overseas were for expecting to come back and enjoy family life. Never mind that in many cases those G.I.s came home to an empty house, no car, an empty bank account, debt, and a missing family because the entitled cunt decided she was going to finish what the nation’s enemies didn’t. (I am describing one of many cases like that which happened to guys in my old unit) But pretending you women in the west are some how oppressed while guys busting their asses to please them is like pretending that the Nazis were oppressed while the Jews were “entitled”.
“Every aspect? Damn. You’re so dramatic”
Actually it is the women that tend to bring the drama in. It is the women that tend to demand the workplace bend over for them. It is the women that tend to cause the problems because they aren’t “getting enough attention” or “some man got a pay raise” but they didn’t.
“And you’re a dumb poopy face! Nyah!”
Yeah, you are trying to be condescending, but I am not impressed. You and the author of this article are both wrong whether or not you realize it. It is obvious that you both are probably wondering “Where did all the good men go?” (Deny all you want, I know it is the case.) All you have to do is look in the mirror and blame yourself and your feminist friends’ treatment of men in society and personally for that. Now the only men that you have left are the white knighting gamma males and the pseudo-alpha thug males because the good ones either got the few good women left, went their own way, or were degraded to the two aforementioned categories. My only hope is that more men go their own way before women like you or the author of this article ruin them.
Wow, all that and it only took you 8 days to write?
You know, if you’re so angry that your money might be paying for someone’s birth control, it’s only fair that we not pay for your Viagra. You have sex for recreation, you pay for the Viagra. Why should my money go towards your Vigara prescription, right?
Also, so “welfare queens” are slutty whores who got themselves into this mess so fuck them sluts? Are you for real? Grow up, you’re not an eight year old on a playground.
No, fuckwit, it’s very simple.
Nobody wants men, collectively as in roughly half the population, to go. It’s the whining, entitled, lying, misogynistic pieces of shit who call themselves MGTOW we’d like to disappear. Because, you see, they keep promising to go and they never. fucking. do. LIke you, they hang around on forums telling women how horrible we are and complaining about how we don’t service their boners or make them sammiches or whatever. That’s not going your own way, that’s just more dudewhining.
Just go, losers. Nobody of any sex will miss you.
Let’s be fair here, it does take a lot of time to copypaste every MRA talking point from every blog in the manosphere.
katz – But of course. Replying promptly to any feminist is MISANDRY!
Of what…your red right hand? Trust me, your hand is welcome to you.
Ok, I came here to drop this — http://wingsandtails.tumblr.com/post/14163388508/tw-ableism-ableist-slurs-conflating-violence-with — because it’s what we all need to sum up the argument against the current string of ableist comments around here.
And then I got as far through that rant as the part about soldiers and ARGGHHH. I see my favorite one hasn’t stopped by yet, so I’ll be texting him when I’m done typing this. (Well, almost favorite one, sorry dear but you have to compete with my grandfather for that, I’m sure you understand)
I like how CR thinks people are obligated to be concerned about his ‘sexual desires”. CR Williams I have news for you…we are obligated to be concerned about you at all.
Well, listen to that, ladies! CR won’t date us.
I, for one, couldn’t be more relieved.
Now, why doesn’t he just go his own way already?
Now why might THAT be? Couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that NOBODY WANTS YOU, could it?
I like how he starts his endless vein-exploding rage-a-thon by accusing this blog of being hostile.
Well, I can’t argue with that kind of logic. Well played Sir.
“Uh, no it is not. Pregnancy is a natural side effect of sex. If you have sex recreationally, YOU are responsible for paying for YOUR birth control.”
I need to take birth control to regulate my cycle and reduce the symptoms of a chronic and potentially life threatening medical condition that I’ve had two surgeries to help correct… And I have to fight my insurance and random old dude pharmacists to get it sometimes.
But Viagra… my boyfriend mentioned a rare and random case of whisky dick to his doctor off hand and FREE SAMPLES!
Make sure to add “Deny all you want, I know this is the case” to the list of acceptable MRA citations, along with “FACT” and “And that’s real”.
Also. who the fuck DOESN’T have sex ‘recreationally’? If it isn’t fun, then why in the name of whatever Deity you talk to would you even do it!?
I’ll be expecting a swift and crushing rebuttal to all this sometime very early in 2014.
Okay, I meant in the context of some kind of relationship. I understand that sex workers might not be having the best time of their lives every time, but I digress.
And you could argue “X is a natural side effect of Y” about practically any health condition, from “bad knees are a natural side effect of running” to “emphysema is a natural side effect of smoking.” Yet I don’t see anyone rushing to remove sports-related physical therapy from insurance policies.
@katz
And don’t forget “I work in a museum!”
And everything Pell says.
And because I like to CITE THINGS (unlike MRAs):
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/endometriosis/DS00289/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
“Hormonal therapies used to treat endometriosis include: Hormonal contraceptives. Birth control pills…”
Nope, you do need to cite evidence for your position! I’m sorry, but just because you’re a Manly Radical Anti-feminist Maverick doesn’t mean that you can ignore the basic rule in valid argumentation, which is to support your argument with actual evidence.
Are you, by any chance, referring to domestic abuse shelters for women? If so, you’re an asshole of the lowest order.