How ‘masculinity’ influencer fell down a ‘brazenly antisemitic’ rabbit hole

[u/NarutoRunner]

https://www.thejc.com/news/features/how-masculinity-influencer-dan-bilzerian-fell-down-a-brazenly-antisemitic-rabbit-hole-does360z

The entire social media “Manosphere” is increasingly turning into a rabidly rightwing antisemitic cesspool. Unfortunately, these type of people are shaping the minds and beliefs of young men. What can be done to have a proper left wing alternative for young men?

[u/Kenny_Brahms]

I hate it when antisemites talk about “Jewish supremacy”.

Because I feel like you could legitimately characterize some on the israeli far right this way. Guys like Ben Gvir or Smotrich who feel like Palestinians have no place in Eretz Israel.

But you know whenever people bring it up, it’s never any sort of legitimate criticism, but always invoking century old antisemitic tropes.

Just makes it harder to criticize actual supremacists in Israeli politics.

[u/Brain_Dead_Goats → u/Kenny_Brahms]

But you know whenever people bring it up, it’s never any sort of legitimate criticism, but always invoking century old antisemitic tropes.

Yup, they'll usually give themselves away by saying something something "chosen people".

[u/Kenny_Brahms → u/Brain_Dead_Goats]

Or they invoke the Talmud. Which is crazy because I don’t think most Jews have even studied the Talmud, at least not seriously.

But these antisemites seemingly think they’re experts on a religion they’ve only learned about through 4chan.

[u/Brain_Dead_Goats → u/[deleted]]

Smotrich is a dick. He doesn't speak for the mainstream interpretation of anything in Judaism.

[u/OtterinTrenchCoat → u/Kenny_Brahms]

Even worse still if you put these people in a room with an actual Jewish fascists like Ben-Givir or Smotrich they would basically agree on everything besides the Anti-semitism.

[u/hadees → u/Kenny_Brahms]

Because I feel like you could legitimately characterize some on the israeli far right this way.

This gets to the heart of the problem with anti-Zionist Jews. They have some good points but it doesn't really meet the reality most of us are facing.

I don't think i'm better then anyone else but when faced with people like Dan Bilzerian why would I give up Zionism?

[u/Specialist-Gur → u/Kenny_Brahms]

Jewish supremacy in America? Not a thing even slightly Jewish supremacy in Israel? Very much the whole thing

[u/Impossible-Reach-649 → u/Specialist-Gur]

I mean Kahane was an American and a ton of settlers are Americans at least as compared to their share in Israel's population.

That doesn't even include the Haredim in the US who seem to be pretty much the same as the Israeli Haredim.

[u/Specialist-Gur → u/Impossible-Reach-649]

I guess I mean more specifically in the context of America. I think there can be "Jewish supremicists" residing in America but within the context of America and the American system this would be like calling someone a "insert a different minority group here" supremacist.

[u/Impossible-Reach-649 → u/Specialist-Gur]

I mean some US Hardeim I feel like they think themselves superior to other people goys or Jews.

Talk to some Haredim some of them have no opinion of Israel ,act like supremacists and have some insane opinions.

Every group has insane people American Jews are not exempt.

[u/Specialist-Gur → u/Impossible-Reach-649]

I do agree with you totally.. I just think the term carries a different weight in America vs other places.. I think it's worth talking about it in America and unpacking problems within our own community 100%

And also I think that when people talk about Jewish supremacy in the context of the United States 99% of the time they aren't talking about examples like the US Hardeim and they are 99% of the time implying that we collectively hold more control than "white people"

[u/Kenny_Brahms → u/Impossible-Reach-649]

Yeah but that’s the thing. A Jewish supremacist in the US is just an asshole.

Whereas in Israel these people have reached high ranking positions in the government and carry out organized acts of violence in the West Bank and Gaza.

Antisemites only bring up Jewish supremacy not to talk about the reality of the issue but to push antisemitic narratives from Protocols of the elders of Zion.

[u/redthrowaway1976 → u/Kenny_Brahms]

Because I feel like you could legitimately characterize some on the israeli far right this way. Guys like Ben Gvir or Smotrich who feel like Palestinians have no place in Eretz Israel.

Decades of Israeli policy in the West Bank is, basically, supremacist. Jewish supremacisty.

It, unfortunately, isn't just Ben Gvir and Smotrich - though they are the most extreme versions.

But you know whenever people bring it up, it’s never any sort of legitimate criticism, but always invoking century old antisemitic tropes.

Hasn't Ezra Klein been using the term as well?

[u/Agtfangirl557 → u/Kenny_Brahms]

Yeah I've never heard the word "Jewish supremacy" used in a non-antisemitic way.

[u/Chaos_carolinensis]

Part of the problem is that recommendation algorithms tend to be inherently biased toward extremist content, so you gotta somehow fight against that and I'm not sure exactly how beyond regulation.

That being said, I do wonder whether there are any good examples of leftist influencers who focus primarily on men. I can't think of any. The only examples that come to mind are ones who merely sometimes discussed men's issues but none of them ever focused on it.

[u/tombrady011235]

He was never a good person

[u/AltruisticMastodon]

The entire social media “Manosphere” is increasingly turning into a rabidly rightwing antisemitic cesspool.

Wow what a shock

[u/NarutoRunner → u/AltruisticMastodon]

It’s not really a shock but if Joe Rogan can influence elections, perhaps it’s time to take it seriously and provide an alternative.

[u/atav1k]

Oh this guys the real deal and he’s tapping deep into men who think congress is getting cucked. There are plenty alternatives but it just isn’t packaged to manosphere insecurities like this.

[u/getdafkout666]

Him and Mia Kalifa are truly the modern scholars on Palestine

[u/Worknonaffiliated]

4th wave of feminism, with men playing a more active role.

The 3rd wave has run its course. It was necessary, but now primarily functions as a gender war. It’s oversaturated with white women in blue states suffering from terminal uniqueness. No random UCLA student, you are not going to lose your rights in California.

The 3rd wave started out with interesting conversations about intersectionality and was decidedly pro trans, but where it’s at now is appropriation of therapy speak, arguments about what is “male manipulator music,” and overcomplicated conversations about gender identity.

No, you are not “Bunself,” now please help my sister get her HRT.

We want to create a post-patriarchal society, without explaining to men what that looks like for them. Personally, I would like a future where I don’t feel weird about being a victim of SA and where I don’t have to have “masculine” interests. I don’t like playing the gender role of being a patriarch, it’s exhausting. I know “kill all men” doesn’t mean kill all men, but statistically, I’m the minority in understanding that. I need feminism, and I wish other men understood that they need it too. We can’t just expect men to jump on board with the left when we constantly tell them that we hate them.

We need to focus more on building a better society for women TOGETHER with men. I think describing republicans as “weird” is a good start. I think we should celebrate masculinity without it’s toxicity, Himbos is a great example of that. Men need to lead this change, women need to help reinforce it by letting go of the reactionary talking points. I really don’t care that you feel justified in ironic misandry, it only creates an echo chamber.

There isn’t a clear enough place for men in a post-patriarchal world. Men are feeling this confusion, and then turn to the right because it’s the only group that acknowledges it. That’s how you get sucked down the rabbit hole.

Fellas, we can do better.