“Manosphere” may not be a term you’ve heard used often, if at all. It is, essentially, a group of websites and blogs directed towards men:
Manosphere- The name given to a loose and informal network of blogs, forums and websites, with internet commentators focusing on issues relating to men and masculinity, as a male counterpart to feminism or in opposition to it.
The problem with grouping such a variety of websites under a single moniker is of course, there are many different opinions on what constitutes “masculine” behavior. You have everything from The Art Of Manliness (which is very broad and general) to very misogynistic PUA (Pick-Up Artist) websites, and all sorts of others in between.
There are plenty of websites that give bad advice about money, politics, relationships, and so forth, but for some reason, masculinity-related sites are frequently targeted for criticism, and I think it’s directly tied in to society’s increasingly twisted views on normalcy and masculinity as a whole.
So what should you do if you’re a man looking for advice on how to improve specific areas in your life? Here’s a couple of guidelines to help you navigate the iceberg-littered sea to manhood.
Tip 1: Know what you’re looking for.
If you just do a random search for “masculinity” you’re going to come across all sorts of crazy stuff. There’s a whole group of people who hate traditional masculinity, and want to destroy it any way possible, because it presents a threat to their warped ideals.
You’ll also find testosterone-laden tirades against those people, with calls to violence and every sort of nasty thing imaginable.
But what you’re looking for is wisdom and knowledge, not opinions.
If you’re looking for advice on strength training, or outdoor skills, or even style tips for men, search for those specific things. Like with a car, you can bring it to a general mechanic, and they might do a fine job fixing it, or they might not. But if you bring it to a shop that specializes in that particular brand (not the dealership), then you should get a more detailed, in-depth diagnosis based on years of experience with that specific car.
Tip 2: Don’t be afraid to learn new things.
Along with searching for what you want to know, you may run across solutions that you’d never considered, or even heard of before. In a world driven by highly concentrated advertising campaigns, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Sometimes you’ll find something that actually works, and is exactly what you needed.
There have been several things I’ve learned and incorporated into my specific body of knowledge. Intermittent Fasting is one of those things, along with various nutritional and health principles. Which brings me to the next tip…
Tip 3: Research what you find.
Just because you find some supplement, exercise, or idea that’s interesting doesn’t mean it’s based on sound principles. But if you find supporting evidence for it in multiple places, there may be something substantial to it. This should be common sense, but everybody has heard stories of people who tried something that was “too good to be true” and discovered they were right the hard way.
Specifically when it comes to diet, exercise, and nutrition, you need to be very careful. The human body is very resilient, but it’s possible to cause irrevocable damage to yourself without even realizing it. It’s best to make dietary and exercise changes gradually, so you can see the difference and prevent damage.
Ultimately, you are responsible for your health and well-being, so don’t just take people’s words for it. Do your diligence. Read, study, and learn.
Tip 4: Sift the chaff from the wheat.
No website is perfect. There will always be something you can find (if you dig enough) that you don’t agree with, or don’t like, or know isn’t right. But that doesn’t automatically mean everything that person posted is garbage. Even on a site like The Art of Manliness (which I think Brett McKay does a fantastic job with) there’s bound to be things I just don’t see eye-to-eye with. I’m okay with that, and I’m sure Brett is okay with that. But you should know why, and be able to defend your position.
In fact, if you do find something you disagree with, I challenge you to post to your own blog about your experiences, and why you disagree, and what other course of actions you could take. I mean, that’s the only respectable manly response, right?
Further Reading
Disclaimer:
By listing a site here, I’m not saying that I agree with everything those writers say. And just because I’ve read them doesn’t mean I endorse everything they post. Each site has more experience in certain areas, and once you do some reading, it will become obvious where those specialties lie. Read with your mind engaged, don’t check your brain at the door. You can use these as jumping points into new topics, but it’s important to think for yourself.
With that being said, when searching through the manosphere, you’ll find everything from social/political commentary to tips on dressing well, mental focus, physical health, business advice, men’s nutrition, relationship advice, and a host of other men-focused content. Some are religiously affiliated, many are not. Some are good, some are not.
I would highly recommend starting with The Art Of Manliness. Dig through some topics and see what piques your interest. Who knows, you might learn something.