Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
Well, maybe we've had enough about European-American relations for the past week. Let's talk about European-European relations!
We know a lot about gender imbalances in China, hikikomori in Japan, 4B in Korea, and Americans screeching in existential terror at every element of the opposite sex on social media. It seems like many of the most developed parts of the world are struggling to maintain stable relationship norms, and men and women are opting out of relationships altogether at unprecedented rates. That obviously prompts the question: what about Europe?
Europeans: how do you feel about the dating and marriage situation in your part of the world? Do men and women generally couple up ok? Have dating apps caused damage? Are people isolated and on social media, or do romantic connections and friendships form more easily? More philosophically, do men and women in your country generally feel the opposite sex is trustworthy, or do they see them as more dangerous than helpful? Are there tensions over gender norms, or have people where you're from settled on a new accommodation for the relationship between men and women?
For Russia, the traditional issue is low male quality. It's a vicious cycle of men doing "stupid men stuff" like drinking, fighting, committing crimes and working dangerous jobs, creating a scarcity of men that allows the survivors to get away with doing more stupid men stuff.
For decades, the solution to this problem was "women settling for less and/or looksmaxxing". You know, the "average Russian couple" meme with Shrek and a sex doll. These days women just don't settle down. They have as many kids as they can afford to raise alone since the divorce rate is too high (zero to one), so if they cannot afford children, they just don't marry anyone. They date around (earning the derogatory title of "plateress" from the men they eat out with), just in case there's someone worthy on the dating market, but no longer think they have to settle down by any due date.
This generally seems to be one case where the sex ratio is severely distorted in one direction or the other; women’s general willingness to marry is eroded as a consequence either way. One Manosphere blogger described it thus:
“Why should I think about marriage? All guys are available.”
“Why should I think about marriage? No guys are available.”
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link