The biting Michigan cold has let up enough for me to continue my long, baseless walks in muddy forest trails. I use this time to think about my interests and how the world functions; what is going on in society, what elicits emotional reactions in me, etc. Its my own way of achieving a sense of accomplishment while grinding credits in college. Tonight, I was wondering if I could truly fully overcome my sense of loneliness, despite acknowledging the truths of the manosphere. I know women hate nerdy, low status, physically weak men, but at the same time my biological compulsions told me there is still a hope that I can find "the right one", a woman who can meet my needs sexually and emotionally without draining my time, energy, and resources. Could I even call myself a MGTOW with these urges?

I've seen arguments from some popular MGTOWers that MGTOW is the ultimate expression of enlightenment, a path towards self-actualization that grows at an exponential rate. It is even a popular belief that one day, we'll pretty much grow out of the need for women in our society (artificial wombs, sex robots, etc). But whenever I look at my peers, it seems like most men are still on an endless quest for sex and romance. I've known guys who've had a dozen failed relationships, but are still trying to find "the right one". And most men, even in this day and age, will try the marriage game at least once. Despite the demands of hypergamy and rise of promiscuity, we have not "grown out" of women yet. The most self-actualized men have not eschewed women entirely, but in fact usually settle down with an attractive woman after numerous successful flings. Newton and Tesla are the rare exceptions, not the rules. This community is usually good at accepting hard, biological facts, but it keeps believing that men will one day see the light and throw away their wedding rings and picket fences for test tubes and Harley's.

Then why are so many men in developed nations deciding to drop women entirely? Because society has dropped them.

The classic case study of the rise of MGTOW on a large scale is Japan - one of the richest, most advanced nations on Earth, that cannot save its own population decline. "Hikikomori"/"Otaku"/"Grass-Eaters" all describe the mainly male adults who have shunned the salaryman masculinity. Some may say that these men have finally been shown the nature of female behavior, and consented to going their own way on a personal basis. But in all my readings on the subject, that couldn't be further from the case. These men simply can't support the demands of women. The middle class has stagnated, while work hours reach soul-crushing heights. Women are expected to op-out of the workforce to raise their kids, which makes the women even more hypergamous. Why give up the career you beat your ass for for a man who can't provide, or doesn't want to compete in the rat race? There's not a lot of room for romance in a hyper-capitalized world, only practicality. So more and more men are simply escaping into fantasy.

But their fantasies are still very much based on a love for women. Anime is filled with romantic plotlines, big and small. A popular trope is of the female friend who, after knowing the main character for years, confesses her feelings for him. Ironically, something that couldn't be less attractive for women irl. Then there is the bizarre Idol culture, similar to the Western love of pop stars, but with the complete fetishization of femininity, including beauty, youth, and chastity. It can be taboo to even have a boyfriend, because it demolishes the fantasy in your fan's minds. You're telling me that if you threw a beautiful, virginal woman who'd submit to his every whim, he'd shove her aside to better humanity? Ha!

The reality of the matter is that men either no longer have incentives to marry, or can't appeal to them at all. You could call these men MGTOW, but they're not the kind who would tolerate the misogyny on here (I'm not saying its a bad thing, but let's call a spade a spade). Feministic policies have pushed women into the workforce and encouraged total sexual freedom. Meanwhile, the economic opportunities of the past have vanished for the men who have to meet higher standards than ever, due to hypergamy. A few men want to live a life spinning plates, but this isn't an option for most men - many of which genuinely want a stable relationship anyways. With the gender polarity weaker than ever, men and women are neglecting their role in reproduction. If we were a tribal village, we'd be slaughtered by the more fertile, "misogynistic" race of barbarians. I guess that overpopulation issue will solve itself.

I still don't foresee myself marrying any woman in my lifetime. They do not connect with my masculine interests, and women these days are only supportive and loyal to alpha, dominant men. Imagining a woman with than 3 partners is outright disgusting for me. I also don't want to play Russian roulette with my finances from divorce rape. But this isn't because I'm on some path of enlightenment, like a Buddha who meditates even in mid-step. I have simply acknowledged that women will never love me for who I am, but what I will provide. When more and more men go their own way, it will not be because we're entering a new age of worldwide brotherhood, but because the motivation of men gradually gets crushed by the very system that perpetuates it. Our governments will try to answer this by throwing incentives for women. But until they acknowledged the uncomfortable fact that MEN are the ones suffering under a society that treats them as disposable, in employment and marriage, that we can ever see these declines reversed.

And that just isn't going to happen. Don't enjoy the decline - SURVIVE it.