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Culture War Roundup for the week of March 6, 2023

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The vast majority of women want a boyfriend who values them as more than a sex partner. They do not want a friend with benefits, and they are often crestfallen to settle for one after a series of dates and hookups. The cratering self-esteem and mental health of young women in progressive spaces should clue us in that this whole arrangement isn’t great for them either.

Then they shouldn't have set the bar on making approaches so high that only Chad can pass it, and set the penalties so high for failure that only someone who thinks he's Chad, or is utterly clueless, dares try in an environment other than among strangers (e.g. online dating).

Or, more realistically, they should make a man commit to them before he can get his dick wet.

What does commitment even mean these days? Marriage? Getting a fiance ring or something?

Anything that entails the contribution of one's time, effort and patience, plus a willingness to compromise.

I imagine back in the olden days it was socially difficult if you suddenly broke up with your relationship, there'd be all these rumors and voices and your family would be very angry with you. When King Edward VIII wanted to marry an American divorcee it was just not on. He was made to pay a price for that decision.

But what is there now that can prove your commitment? What can be socially enforced? What is commitment in the relationship sense? Nothing.

Well, yes. I suppose I understand what you're getting at.

Times have indeed changed. There was a time when men were responsible for their wives / female relatives, and women were accountable to their husbands/ male relatives. Those times are gone. Dismantling patriarchal monogamy has consequences. I'll argue that proving your commitment is still easy, as it has signals that should be bloody obvious to the other party, but generally speaking, commitment can only be elicited and incentivized, not enforced. That's the social reality today.

That would be part of the problem- see my earlier comment about there are no standards anymore.

In reality, I suspect the immediate result of lowering the bar is to keep getting pumped and dumped, just by less attractive guys, even if this does increase her long-term odds of finding a good relationship,