Internet’s Divided Over Twitter Thread That Attacks Toxic Masculinity & Tells How We Need To Fix Boys Before Gun Laws

• By Malaika Aman
• February 16, 2018
• < 1

Boys are broken.

At least that is what one Twitter user had to say. Now, this may sound demeaning, but he had a reason so let me elaborate. While the movement of feminism was much needed and helped a lot of people to embrace change.

Men, however, weren’t lucky enough to receive the same treatment. Sure, it might not ‘seem’  like that they are dealt with unfairly, but the truth is quite the opposite. And Michael Ian Black wanted to shed some light on this subject matter.

He starts with a simple but meaningful line.

Deeper even than the gun problem is this: boys are broken.

— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) February 15, 2018

And then he starts to elaborate on what he means by that.

Until we fix men, we need to fix the gun problem.

— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) February 15, 2018

He explains how men and boys alike are still locked in a rigid place.

The last 50 years redefined womanhood: women were taught they can be anything. No commensurate movement for men who are still generally locked into the same rigid, outdated model of masculinity and it’s killing us.

— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) February 15, 2018

And how they are unable to change.

If you want to hurt a man, the first thing you do is attack his masculinity. Men don’t have the language to understand masculinity as anything other than some version of a caveman because no language exists.

— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) February 15, 2018

As everything is hopelessly entwined.

The language of masculinity is hopelessly entwined with sexuality, and the language of sexuality in hopelessly entwined with power, agency, and self-worth.

— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) February 15, 2018

And that this is probably the reason behind the fear all men feel.

So men (and boys before that) don’t have language for modes of expression that don’t readily conform to traditional standards. To step outside those norms is to take a risk most of us are afraid to take. As a result, a lot of guys spend their lives terrified.

— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) February 15, 2018

So they shut out everything else.

We’re terrified of being viewed as something other than men. We know ourselves to be men, but don’t know how to be our whole selves. A lot of us (me included) either shut off or experience deep shame or rage. Or all three. Again: men are terrified.

— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) February 15, 2018

And nobody is helping men in the least.

Even talking about this topic invites ridicule because it’s so scary for most men (and women). Men are adrift and nobody is talking about it and nobody’s doing anything about it and it’s killing us.

— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) February 15, 2018

People had varying opinions on Michaels post.

https://twitter.com/CAdamPeart/status/964196605900374016

Some were just downright rude.

https://twitter.com/DWilsonEsq/status/964285189584236545

However, some people acted exactly as Micheal was describing.

https://twitter.com/lkumar11281/status/964444081970585600

All in all, the thread was filled with negativity.

Please stop trying to project your own pathology on the general male population. You only make yourself look pathetic.

— The Centerville Conservative (@cwcollinsjr) February 16, 2018

What about you? Do you agree with his beliefs? Share your thoughts in the comments down below.