WTF is a MGTOW? A Glossary
On this blog, MRA does not mean Magnetic Resonance Angiography
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 the 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.
@Ostara321
Well it hardly matters really..
The present government in the UK is allowing parents to control or choose schools. This has resulted in a modest increase in the number of single sex schools. I predict this will continue and probably become about 50/50.
Oh, as they go full on the segregation ? Interesting.
How am I part of the problem, again?
And how did PC attitudes relate to Einstein and the war?
@ Fibinachi
You are part of the problem because you have a ‘zero sum’ mentality. In other words you assume that anything that helps men must therefore hurt women. This results in all sorts of illogicality. For instance I once had a woman tell me that my plan was worthless because it helps girls even more than it helps boys.
I said good. My intention was never to hold anyone back.
@ Fibinanchi
The present government has no policy ether for or against single sex education. Many people now view co ed as a politically inspired mistake but there is political drive to reverse it. The new emphasis is on parents choice.
Thanks, I was quite puzzled. Appreciate the explanation.
I was really hoping you’d explain what a red pill was in this glossary. Also, are MGTOWers advocating abstinence or homosexuality?
You’re right, it should have an entry – they spend enough time blathering about it!
The Red Pill refers to The Matrix – they fancy they’re the only ones who can see reality and everyone else is fooled by the FeminaziMatrixMatriarchyBigGummintWhathaveyou.
The MGTOW seem to be just as much about hating women and being full of frothing rage that they can’t own us, as anything else. It’s all threats to withdraw their oh-so-precious selves from society and these evil cootie-bearing women. Except, of course, they never do, though gods know everyone else wishes they’d shut up and go. It’s just like a four-year-old screaming at Mummy that he’s going to run away from home forever! Yes forever! I’m leaving now! Look! I really am!
For blokes who allegedly don’t need women at all, they seem to spend 99% of their time obsessing about us. I wouldn’t insult anyone else’s sexuality by making guesses about these guys – it’s not right to do that anyway – and if it’s really abstinence they’re promoting, they need to learn to do something about their rage-boners, that’s all I can say.
Yes! We all know that ‘separate but equal’ (except, as the Dark Beanie say, in the relative sense) is an amazing way of fighting stereotypes.
Now I just have to wrap my head around how people (mras) whose mantra is ‘helping men by shitting on women’ (and gender queer people don’t exist in that parallel universe) are rejecting the zero sum game approach to gender. And rejecting the imposition of binary and normative gender roles (feminism) is supporting a zero sum approach. It seems to only work under a ‘Beanie Noir’s projection fantasy’ framework.
I need to meditate on Shady Strawhat’s concept of equality but not ‘relative equality’. It sounds like a euphemism for ‘inequality’ to me, but I’m sure I fail to grasp the subtlety of the concept. I’ll ponder on Coal Beret’s framework on all social group dynamics. For example, all ethnic groups (social construct as they are) are equal, except when they are compared with one another. Without Night Cap, I would assume this was the very basis of inequality, but now I know I need to stop thinking of human/group relations in relative terms!
BTW, fellow feminists, we haven’t done our secret pro-Hitler, pro-Lepen/Front National, fascist Masonic high-five for a while. I miss the gynocratic binding.
And Fedora’s forgotten and trans* people (well, kids this time) again. Color me surprised!
Also, “separate but equal” always works so well >.<
Hi Bronas Salk! I think you might be the first person to suggest a change/addition that should actually happen. They seem to advocate abstinence when not advocating whining about how horrible women are.
@ Bronas Salk
Red Pill simply means waking up and seeing things through new eyes.
It comes from the first Matrix movie where Neo was given a choice of comfortable oblivion and uncomfortable truth by taking either a red or a blue pill.
Love your renaming of Haberdassery here, Maude.
Also MGTOW’s are more concerned with social value than with sex. In other words they do not base their lives around getting female approval but seek to find some worthy goal that betters humanity instead.
Sex may or may not come but it hardly matters. What is important is that it does not involve too much of the madness of tragic romanticism or the ruination of the man through expensive gifts.
MGTOW is equal opportunities as far as sex goes. There are even Lesbians in the movement, but as I said. This is not the main point.
Blackhate: If you think about it a world where boys are free to read poetry is also likely to be a world where builders do not whole whistle women.
Yeah, Victorian England was so nice to women. And the men in WW1 weren’t writing any poetry at all. Nope.
I’m not sure if I ever posted this (not that you will reply. Answering questions, mainting a consistent line of thought doesn’t seem to be your thing), but if I did, well it bears repeating:
Both men and women are of the same value. ‘Male’ and ‘female’ roles are just choices we make. Neither the state nor feminism can tell us what they should be.
Ah… MEN should define those roles. Then men can blame women for fulfilling them (stay at home, spend, “his” money, because she has no job, “in keeping with her,’female’ role” and get called a gold-digging hypergamous bitch, or go out, get a job, support herself [and maybe her partner]; so she can be called a castrating bitch, who is destined to get divorced because she, “usurped” the “man’s role”).
That’s a swell system you got there. And you wonder why women aren’t lining up to join it.
Me, I’m a man, and I think the system you espouse is horrid.
LOL so arseholes like Minty the Deadbeat creeping around at night so he won’t see any ebil women have worthy goals, eh? And how is it that these great and noble fellows haven’t the brain power to search for these worthy goals and conduct ordinary relationships with other people? Could it be that you’re all hopelessly selfish and immature?
MGTOW never do go anywhere; that’s the whole problem. They, and you, are just sulky little boys sitting on the front porch and threatening to run away from home. So fucking go, will you? Unlike little kids, nobody actually wants you around.
Also, what makes you think most men’s lives revolve around “getting female approval”? Or is “not being an arsehole, whiner or predator” and “being a member of society” what you call getting female approval?
@ pecunium
Your error here is in assuming that feminism = women.
Some feminists are men.
Some women are anti feminist.
@ Kittesherf
The MGTOW’s I have known tend to have an artistic temperament. Many produce fantastic work yet fame as an artist is not dependent on talent as it is in the business world. There is an element of luck and showmanship involved.
It is almost impossible to be an artist and support a woman financially- at least at first. This is why the arts are largely run by gay men- they have fewer responsibilities.
The second group seem to be mathematicians and research scientists. Brilliant men, all of them. Some a little odd, but all brilliant.
“Some feminists are men.”
Pecunium, where you aware that you exist?
The arts are run by gay men my ass. That must be why so many women feel they have to sleep their way in.
Does anyone actually think hatboy is being serious and not just trolling? If so I have a bridge to sell them.
Cassandra — oh he’s trolling alright, I was just still cranky about other things and no, just no, so many layers of no.
Also, pecunium didn’t know he exists! What an awkward state of being, I do hope he enjoys the realization he can be who he is! (This is half snark, and half me settling into “shit, people actually take me seriously as an androgynous person? Like, why’d I spend a decade+ telling myself androgyny wasn’t an option?” I’ve hit a weird point in other words)
I must admit that “everyone in the arts is gay” was particularly well calculated to wind people up.
@Cassandra
I did not say everyone. In London I would guess it it about 90% but straights can be found.
Aww, my SCENTED FUCKING CANDLE burned itself out. At least it doesn’t smell like filter anymore. Lit the wrong end of a clove, dear gods did that reek.
But did it all burn, or just 90% of it?
I’ve stopped buying candles from IKEA, by the way, because the last ones I bought smelled awful when you blew them out. Not sure why or what the cause was, but it was disgusting.
D’you reckon useful as a hatfull of arseholes is Mr 90%?
Don’t know, don’t care!
One troll/sock’s much like another, these days … must be crowded in hatboy’s head, with all those imaginary Geniuses Going Their Own Way in there. Funny how even moderate intelligence isn’t a characteristic of the ones ranting online.
Cassandra — well, far less than 90%, but that’s only because it’s a particularly stubborn cranky ass that refuses to burn for very long without flooding the wick. So yeah, resembles some of our other trolls — stubborn and burns out quick fits most of them!
Ikea trolls: various ways of assembling them (no Allen key required), all end up much the same, and end up flaming out or just make a low-level pong for ages.
(Okay, totally mixed Ikea metaphor, but eh, they’re only trolls, they don’t deserve better.)
No, you’ve got it all wrong.
This is your chance to go out shopping for a candle snuffer, preferably antique. You’ll lose your hivemind accreditation if you keep on missing shopping and spending opportunities like this.
But antiques don’t waste any new resources or damage the environment, as women are supposed to do. You gotta think wasteful – recycling is not allowed.
But, but, Victorian goodies!
And I like ikea furniture. It’s cheap and sturdy and I have no trouble with their directions (though everyone else I know does)
There ya go, Argenti – you could found Ikea Constructions R Us!
Hate Boy: I’m not the one conflating all women. For that we have the MRM.
Why don’t you actually respond to things?
Seems to be music time.
Styx, Too Much Time on My Hands
Yay Styx! Their 80s albums were fabulous. And I adore Tommy Shaw.
Really, Motheaten, i’d have thought you’d realise by now that I’m going to check every “factual” statement you make.
That smell? it’s your pants on fire again. You just can’t help yourself can you? Just have to state as fact anything you think supports your position.
In fact, there is a trend in the opposite direction with most traditionally single-sex schools going mixed. Academics are debating whether this is a good thing, given the typically different learning styles of girls vs boys.
You, BlackFedora, are a LIAR.
My favorite part of this particular lie was the idea that the policies of the present British government, which has only been around for 3 years, have already resulted in a measurable increase in the number of single sex schools. Damn, that education market sure is responsive! Who’d have thought you could get new schools up and running that quickly?
(And this is why I’m mostly ignoring him. What’s the point in engaging with someone who’s just making shit up for trolling purposes?)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebephilia According to Wiki (I don’t have the interest or energy to pursue this further, but that article has like a tons of links) there is some debate within the scientific community as to how “normal” it is to be attracted to teenagers as an adult oneself, and whether adults taking sexual of advantage of minors actually have different sexual desires from most or if they’re just morally depraved.
This is totally not my area of expertise and I’m not gonna fling around theories pulled out of my arse, but IF there were solid scientific evidence to the effect that most adults can find teenagers (even pretty young teenagers) sexually attractive ALTHOUGH most adults also realize that it’s morally wrong to take advantage of people as young as that and therefore choose not to actually DWELL on sexual thoughts regarding teenagers, whatever. For all I (the complete non-expert) knows, this could be the case. What’s so sleazy about MRA:s going on about teenage girls is how they move from “it’s natural to find them attractive” to “it’s morally right to attempt to have sex with teenage girls” and “actually adult women are repulsive”.
On Red Pillers: Wait, this is all about The Matrix? A Keanu Reeves movie? I use Locke, Aquinas, Kant, thinkers like that to support my positions, and they use Keanu Reeves?
On the rest: Wow. How full of crap can these misogynistic douchebags get?
Actually that would be better stated as “they use the people who also made the Speed Racer movie”. You can’t blame Reeves for the fact that The Matrix is silly, he didn’t write that crap.
I don’t know. I liked the Matrix, the first movie, as a fun and entertaining action-sci-fi-movie. Didn’t like the sequels.
I also saw a female journalist some time ago (presumably being unaware of MRA) using the red pill analogy herself for the moment she realized that society is still terribly sexist and feminism is still very much needed.
@ Casandra
You mean governments are not responsive. Markets are.
If you give parents the chance to choose their schools then changes will occur within a year. Governments take ten years to do anything.
In elementary school, I used to sleepover at my best friend’s house and we would fall asleep listening to Styx. Pieces of Eight, I think. On a cassette tape.
I am old.
I remember Styx. Concept albums – so glad they’re not much of a thing any more.
Meanwhile, hat dude is trying way too hard to get me to talk to him.
Oh by the way. I have another site for the boobroll.
http://londonga.blogspot.co.uk/
Enjoy.
Who was it that had the idea of replying to this troll with 80′s song lyrics?
Jungle life
I’m far away from nowhere
On my own like Tarzan Boy
Hide and seek
I play along while rushing cross the forest
Monkey business on a sunny afternoon
Jungle life
I’m living in the open
Native beat that carries on
Burning bright
A fire that blows the signal to the sky
I sit and wonder does the message get to you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
- Tarzan Boy, Baltimora (aka Song With the Best/Worst Music Video Ever Created)
Because I’m too lazy to write out the lyrics.
I graduated from Styx to Jethro Tull’s Aqualung.
And then punk rock saved my life.
I always felt like the Aqualung album cover was how Slavey saw his life as a man.
Ha ha, so true.
This is one of my favorite Styx songs that seems to be kind of underrated:
….this is a profound mystery, but it’s crap all the way down. And it’s a long way down to plumb those depths.
Inspector Tiger: This house is surrounded. I’m afraid I must not ask anyone to leave the room. No, I must ask nobody… no, I must ask everybody to… I must not ask anyone to leave the room. No one must be asked by me to leave the room. No, no one must ask the room to leave. I… I… ask the room shall by someone be left. Not. Ask nobody the room somebody leave shall I. Shall I leave the room? Everyone must leave the room… as it is… with them in it. Phew. Understand?
Colonel Pickering: You don’t want anybody to leave the room.
Inspector Tiger: [clicking fingers to indicate Colonel Pickering has hit the nail on the head] Now, alduce me to introlow myslef. I’m sorry. Alself me to myduce introlow myslef. Introme-to-lose mlow alself. Alme to you introself mylowduce. Excuse me a moment. [bangs himself on the side of the head] Allow me to introduce myself. I’m afraid I must ask that no one leave the room. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Inspector Tiger.
Everybody: Tiger?
Inspector Tiger: [whirling around] WHERE? WHERE?
————————————————————————
Chief Constable There’samanbehindyou: Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Chief Constable There’samanbehindyou.
Everybody: There’s a man behind you? Chief Constable
There’samanbehindyou: No, you’re not going to fool me with that one.
-Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Belongs in the thread of songs it’s impossible to have sex to.
you’re right women are people, just kidding. women are vagina holes, just kidding again…I finally figured it out, there’s a thing called Misanthropy, covers all grounds, why limit yourself to hating women/men/jews/gays when you can simply hate everyone? x
Oh, Flumpy, you are too cool and blasé for us. How ever will we cope with the subtlety of your nihilistic sangfroid and total lack of shits to give?
Oh, look, another person who thinks that hir bigotry is okay because ze hates everyone. You’re so cool and edgy!