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This video discusses the overlap between red pill ideologies and fitness / selfimprovement and how fitness content has become a kind of “gateway” to the manosphere, the intellectual dark web, and other related subcultures.
Where does this overlap come from? Partly, it comes from the idea that fitness = strength = masculinity. For many, the pursuit of fitness is the pursuit of the hegemonic ideal of becoming a chad or an alpha male. Many guys feel inadequate, unless they have ripped abs and big biceps.
The manosphere and red pill cultures target those individuals telling them they should be more masculine in order to achieve their goals. In order to attract partners and succeed in business. In order to earn the respect of other guys.
Unfortunately, this can be a slippery slope. Along with fitness advice, comes other bad advice. Dating advice that borders on misogyny (which is being generous, in many cases). Grifts and getrichquick schemes (that often require you to buy extortionate online courses). A grind mentality. Toxic masculinity masquerading as Stoicism (they are not the same thing).
Go deeper and you find conspiracy theories that blame minority groups for the issues facing young men. That blame the culture for trying to eradicate “masculinity.” This can cultivate an usvsthem narrative, that ultimately leads to further division online.
The crazy part? It’s also just dumb advice. You can’t just decide to be alpha. Training hard isn’t going to earn you respect if you have a poor emotional intelligence. Lifting more doesn’t make you tough.
This stuff has no place in fitness. And it’s harming your fitness outcomes. In this video, I hope to reveal the dangers of red pill ideologies in fitness content and selfhelp and offer a different perspective to some of the loudest voices in this niche.
Bit of a controversial one… enjoy! And wish me luck in the comments, lol!