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For those asking why the author did this, he has a podcast called the "Know Rogan Experience" aimed at evaluating and understanding what happens on Rogan. Because, like it or not, Rogan has influence.
New form of masochism?
He has a podcast called the "Know Rogan Experience" aimed at evaluating and understanding what happens on Rogan. Because, like it or not, Rogan has influence.
Rogan is a great example of a few things:
The Dunning-Kruger effect
"I'm just asking questions" being used as an excuse to host an unbalanced number of individuals purporting one specific worldview
Toxic masculinity posing as intellectualism
He is extremely popular with one particular demographic. That demographic tends to share the toxic masculinity and the Dunning-Kruger-fueled belief that they can be experts at everything from the armchair.
He's a Kremlin asset. You'll notice he's had half the Epstein files as guests. I don't think that's a coincidence.
Speaking of toxic masculinity, I remember Joe Rogan during Covid saying that he decided to stop masking and isolating because it made him "feel like a pussy" IIRC.
It's weird to me because in my view, a strong person doesn't care what other people think of them. Rogan's actions just seem extraordinarily cowardly and weak to me.
Like, he needed to eat elk meat to feel like a man? I understand we all have negative thoughts like that, but to be compelled to act out of your own fears doesn't strike me as masculine in the least.
Is that a part of toxic masculinity? That it's centered around fear of judgment and a low sense of self worth? That they feel a need to project an image that's exactly the opposite of how they really feel?
Because if so, then it seems like even the slightest bit of critical thinking ability would easily steer men clear of it.
One fairly reliable test to find out if a man (or woman) harbors some toxic masculinity - ask them about vegetarianism or veganism.
Few things will have a certain type spewing forth some of the most ridiculously asinine and sexist things like veg_n diets, LOL. Things like "soy boy" and silly discussions about how "men are inherently hunters" and lots of bro science about protein.
So yeah: if he leaned on the elk meat as something a real man needs to do....not surprising.
No there are valid reasons to disagree with vegans.
It literally isn't a sustainable diet without dozens of supplements. If you're vegan I really hope you're taking your B12.
I'm not vegan. It's absolutely a sustainable diet, however : I know several vegans that have been vegan for years; in some cases for decades. Personally, I've been mostly plant-based (100% vegetarian, but don't eat much dairy and eggs, while I don't take pains to avoid them, either) for over two decades.
In any case, I'm not sure why omnivores as I'm describing feel the need to disagree with vegans/vegetarians. The kind of thing I'm talking about is how their toxic masculinity is triggered - it seems to challenge the very core of their being to even know that vegan/vegetarians exist and without their permission, LOL. They seem especially triggered by men not eating meat.
I'll be honest, that's fair enough. It's not really any of my business if another person is vegan, as long as they're not trying to shame me into abandoning meat.
It is a little sus that they get mad at someone eating something that isn't a "beeg juicy steak", like they're Mr. Pottsdam or something.
Every element of the whole toxic masculinity influencer thing is just an expression of weakness and insecurity framed as "manliness".
It's all performative. Every ounce of it. Goth kids don't put as much effort into appearance. Their version of masculinity is being loud, obnoxious and putting themselves above others. It's a dentist on a $30,000 Harley going 15mph while making 160 decibels, wearing $200 T-shirts and $500 jeans to mimic the hard-earned look of a working man. It's weak, fearful men spouting off constantly about the second amendment and their right to defend their families but wouldn't touch a weapon if it didn't look tacticool enough. Esthetics over everything. They're not brave enough to be original in thinking or appearance. Not strong enough to be the rock of servitude that holds people together in hard times. The embodiment of paper tigers.
Because if so, then it seems like even the slightest bit of critical thinking ability would easily steer men clear of it.
Absolutely correct, in my view. "Fear of judgment and a low sense of self worth" is also spot on.
Rogan gave national voice to plenty of people who regularly used the term "snowflake" to describe what they saw as weak people who like to complain (I'm speaking from memory here and generalizing; Rogan probably has also used this term himself, but I'm not searching transcripts, so take all this with a grain of salt). By this logic, a "snowflake" is someone who is perceived as weak because they let so much affect them emotionally.
But these toxic men are "snowflakes" in every sense of the term. They go on Joe Rogan to complain about trans people, or gay rights, or "the war on Christmas", or the perceived persecution of "alpha males", or any number of other issues. Some guests are only famous because they complain about such things.
So what is the difference between a toxic "alpha male" on Joe Rogan and one of the "snowflakes" they like to complain about? Absolutely nothing, except that the toxic men believe that anger doesn't count as an emotion, so their insecurity allows them to show it regularly.
(And to be clear, there is nothing wrong with showing emotion or caring deeply about something -- that's not a point I'm trying to make)
For what it's worth, to your clarification at the end, after reading I in no way thought you were talking bad about showing emotions.
“I’m just asking questions”
Glenn Beck was (is?) big on that one too.
Yes, and Tucker Carlson. It's kind of a thing.
The difference is that Beck and Carlson are actually more straightforward with regards to how they lean. Rogan always suggests he's a centrist, sometimes even suggesting he is apolitical, which is patently false.
Tucker Carlson. It’s kind of a thing.
What is that libtard saying? This makes no common sense?
Alex Jones been doing that kind of thing since the 90s (at least).
I work with a kid who I know listens to JRE often. He's kind and very smart. What I've found is that he lacks confidence and prefers not to speak even when he thinks he has the right answer, for fear of being wrong. He's depressed, and around this time last year checked himself into a hospital for a week. I know he recently started going to church, likely to try and find answers and support. He seems to mean well. All this to say, listeners of JRE may not be stupid or bad people. Some of them, a lot of them, I'd be willing the guess, are confused young men being brought to bad conclusions because they sound like answers and are wrapped with an "I'm just asking questions," bow.
Yes, I agree with that about confused young men. However, at the end of the day, if JRE turns them into toxic men, then they're still just toxic men.
I would hope that doesn't happen. In general I think we as a society need to be kinder to these confused young men before they take that path. It's a more difficult conversation to have and the solution is not very clear.
Either way, JRE is dangerous because it offers propagandistic suppositions as answers to people with big questions.
JRE is dangerous because telling people what they want to hear is a great way to make money.
In general I think we as a society need to be kinder to these confused young men before they take that path. It’s a more difficult conversation to have and the solution is not very clear.
I agree, and I'll come right out and say it. Real, truly meant words of praise, appreciation, affection, and pride -- where appropriate -- go a LONG way toward turning that shit around. If you have the opportunity to work with younger people, never miss a chance to give them something positive and truthful by way of observation and praise. You have no idea how long it's been, if ever, that they've been made to feel valued.
Hell, I wouldn't even take a bet on how long it's been since YOU were made to feel valued. Even those we assume are the most popular among us can be walking in emotional deserts, because we've collectively stripped society of everything but the most superficial shows of value.
While this is true for people of all genders, it is exceptionally true for young men. Find ways to praise and even mentor, if you can. I honestly believe that if every father told his male child at least once how much he loved him, instead of using that kid as a personal mirror at which to strike at his own insecurities, this world would be a markedly different place.
I had an uncle that learned this the hard way. He grew up in hell, which made him a cold hardass who could be absolutely vicious. Back in his day (the 50s) you had to get married, so he did and had a few children, but he was a complete bastard. And he joined the Army too, so he had that reinforcement going for him at work, which he of course brought home.
And then something changed for him. He had some kind of epiphany back in the 80s. I forget what it was. It wasn't just religion, but something flipped the switch in regard to what he was doing to everyone around him. And in response he decided that he was going to tell everyone just how much he cared about them. His wife was like whatever, his own adult children were wary as hell, and even his friends were like okay but don't hug me. Because he was doing it from a very genuine place, over time he actually won a lot of people around. Even (eventually) his own family, to whom he apologized and gave room to confront him over his prior shitty behavior. Amends were quietly made. And when he died his funeral was so packed there were lines around the block: none of us ever knew he even had that many friends, and friends they were, lining up to speak one after the other about what he'd done for them in his life.
His change was real. And he didn't do much, he just decided he didn't care if it made him feel or look like a fool and started telling people how much he really did care for them, and stopped lying his way through what hurt.
I'd prove it with an obituary if it wouldn't dox me, but yeah. Start there. People treat young men in terms of what's wrong with them; if you want to make a difference, start seeing what's right with them.
prefers not to speak even when he thinks he has the right answer, for fear of being wrong
One remedy for that is to stop listening to Joe Rogan
Self torture? Moron.
He has a podcast called the "Know Rogan Experience" aimed at evaluating and understanding what happens on Rogan. Because, like it or not, Rogan has influence.
I listened to 170 hours of Joe Rogan’s podcast
Why would anyone want to torture themselves like that? o.O
He has a podcast called the "Know Rogan Experience" aimed at evaluating and understanding what happens on Rogan. Because, like it or not, Rogan has influence.
God, why would anyone subject themselves to this?
Rogan is like the Snoop of podcasts. He will do anything for money.
So a whore?
Yea. You can't blame a clown for being in the circus. I can blame him for trying to be an intellectual when he's just a dumb fucking tool.
a whoo-ah
The podcast is very good, I highly recommend picking out a few episodes that look interesting and diving in.
It's quite remarkable how he launders dumbass galaxy-brain conspiracy theories to his audience and drives the conversation towards PR for billionaires.
Mark Andreson led him around like a bull with a ring through his nose; the guy is one of the most useful idiots in history.
Edit: For people who didn't read the article, I'm talking about the author's podcast, The Know Rogan Experience.
Thanks for the recc. I have a feeling I might like it because I've been pretty into Knowledge Fight for a while. If you didn't know about that one, it's a podcast that covers Alex Jones and people in his sphere, including Joe Rogan on occasion.
I oddly haven't tuned in yet, but I remember when they started the podcast since Marshall is a regular on atheist podcasts I regularly listen to, like God Awful Movies.
He's always subjected himself to bullshit though; after all, his other work has him interviewing batshit crazy conspiracy folks and scammy snake oil woo folk.
God bless the author for getting past 3 minutes of that dreck.
still wild to me this guy has a following. Im like who is this guy and why do I care. wait. its the guy from new radio and fear factor. seriously. well I guess reagan was president.
Did nobody ever watch The Man Show? He showed you who he was then.
Man show was Kimmel and Carolla.
Damn. I get my bland toxic masculine men mixed up.
It was those guys then it switched to Rogan and Stanhope, so you're all good