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Comment by Aromasin | Hacker News Reader

"Self-help" videos targeted at men often lead to that too I've found. I might be watching a video about how to come across as more confident to people, or tricks to becoming more disciplined, and with just four or five clicks via Peterson/Milo/Shapiro videos you'll get to the "Lib CUCK get's destroyed by FACTS and LOGIC" side of YouTube.

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This is honestly a really dark pattern that I feel has trapped a lot of unsure/insecure adolescent men. I had a college roommate who had a lot of trouble talking to people, and constantly watched a lot of self help videos (which is honestly a pretty good indicator of self-improvement). However, he was exposed to a lot of rabid political rhetoric at the same time.

All it took to steer him away was getting him outside and with some nice people, but those who are more withdrawn I think are increasingly being exposed to this kind of content at their most impressionable time. It almost feels manufactured.

Fascism has always had a kind of "self-improvement" as a core of its appeal: it offers the freedom of scapegoating, of blaming others. It's a lot easier to go out and denounce someone than recognise the parts of yourself that need work and work on them. And it's very easy for people to enjoy being part of an angry mob, or reinforce their masculinity through street violence or weapons accumulation.

The "pick up artist" ecosystem had a similar appeal, of selling self-help to the vulnerable. That collapsed into the "incel" subculture of blaming everything on women and percieved more attractive men.

as a core of its appeal: it offers the freedom of scapegoating, of blaming others. It's a lot easier to go out and denounce someone than recognize the parts of yourself that need work and work on them. And it's very easy for people to enjoy being part of an angry mob

The above could also apply to the toxic segments of the "social justice" mobs.

if you use "facts" and "logic" as pejorative terms, there is something wrong with your argument.

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