This is an article about the online communities of people who abstain from masturbation. It discusses the reasons people join these communities and the potential harms and benefits. Some people find these communities helpful in overcoming pornography addiction. However, there is concern that these communities spread inaccurate information and may overlap with extremist groups.

  • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    939·
    10 months ago

    “Nothing scares me. Nothing hurts me anymore,” a young YouTuber tells the camera as snowflakes cut across the frame. He is shirtless in a Michigan January, he tells viewers, to make a point about embracing discomfort in order to become a great, powerful man.

    The YouTuber, who goes by the handle iamLucid, tells the camera he can stand the below-freezing temperature because he has been taking cold showers every day and, crucially, hasn’t masturbated to pornography in a year.

    “That’s the most beta thing you can do. That’s the weakest thing any man can do,” he says.

    Like the idiot fucking Boomers before them, these people are preaching putting up with the bullshit you’re abused with as being “strong.”

    Good job being an effective slave you fucking idiot. Good slaves think they’re strong because the abuse they suffer doesn’t bother them.

    Yeah, working forty years for the same motherfucker who keeps paying you less year after year while paying himself more really shows how “tough” you fucking idiots are.

    “I don’t cry when my daddy abuses me,” isn’t the fucking flex you think it is, guys. It means you’re broken, not strong. People who punch dad in the fucking nose and get his abusive ass arrested are strong. People who put up with abuse are weak and broken.

    Good to see young men are just as fucking stupid as their forebears. /s

    Young Men: “Everyone assumes we’re all terrible just because we’re men, we’re not given a chance!”

    Also Young Men: Immediately embrace fucking backwards ass thinking that really justifies the assumption that they’re all fucking terrible by default.

    If they’re trying to prove otherwise, they’re fucking failing because they are god damned idiots obsessed with cro-magnon strength like that matters in the modern world.

    • jpreston2005@lemmy.world
      9·
      10 months ago

      People who put up with abuse are weak and broken

      A hearty and genuine go fuck yourself you moronic piece of shit. Abuse happens in all diff forms and all the responses to it (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) are involuntary.

        • PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works
          121·
          10 months ago

          “I don’t cry when my daddy abuses me,” isn’t the fucking flex you think it is, guys. It means you’re broken, not strong. People who punch dad in the fucking nose and get his abusive ass arrested are strong. People who put up with abuse are weak and broken.

          This part reminded me of the Behind the Basters episodes on Henry Kissinger. He would routinely get beat up by Nazi kids when he was still in Germany, but once he was an adult he would brag about how it never really bothered him.

          We saw how that worked out.

    • GBU_28@lemm.eeEnglish
      102·
      10 months ago

      Great comment.

      A few things though, some folks enjoy the cold, and cold immersion, and that’s fine. There are some studies that in some people there can be some benefits. Great.

      Also, strength can be very … Empowering. And some folks have legitimate lifestyles where being strong is a major benefit. Great. Seeking to be strong does not make one “cro magnon” in motivation.

      But things like strength/fitness are made in the gym, and in the kitchen. Not in some odd biohack.

      Ultimately, the user’s habits don’t seem like they’re hurting anyone (unless there is context not shared in the quote.) And if so, good for them. Whatever placebo makes them feel confident/happy, good for them. There’s people out there rubbing crystals and imbibing in essential oils lol. Issues only arise if they hurt or discredit others, which, the quote suggests, this user somewhat does. (Shaming those who masturbate).

      • oatscoop@midwest.socialEnglish
        71·
        10 months ago

        Resiliency is incredibly valuable, and being in and working through tough situations is the greatest teacher for it. E.g. “I’ve dealt with worse, this is nothing.”

        But there are definitely healthy and unhealthy ways to gain resiliency. Those tough situations should be a net positive experience, and a something gradually worked up to in a way that doesn’t cause physical/mental harm to one’s self – always in pursuit of something worthwhile.

        Fucked up shit pushed by insecure weirdos on the internet is none of those things.

      • uienia@lemmy.world
        13·
        10 months ago

        Ultimately, the user’s habits don’t seem like they’re hurting anyone

        You are ignoring the OP article which makes it very clear that this movement definitely hurts someone, since it is ideologically linked to the far right, and is a huge right wing pipeline, literally being the cause of hatred and bigotry (at best).

        • GBU_28@lemm.eeEnglish
          2·
          10 months ago

          Read literally a few sentences later. And use some critical thinking.

          The HABITS don’t hurt anyone.

          The BEHAVIOR/SOCIAL CONTEXT is.

          If the dude doesn’t want to jack off, so be it. No problem. If the dude shames others , that’s an issue.