Underneath the memes, podcasts, and tradwife fantasies lies a dangerous agenda: train young men to reject equality, fear women’s power, and embrace authoritarianism disguised as masculinity…
Thank you for this. I have been very distressed as a woman who fought for women’s rights in the 70’s at how our culture, world , has absolutely refused to address the elephant in the room. The masculine toxicity of our world. For thousands of years it has determined what happens with little if no input from women. It accomplishes this through violence to women. Rape is everywhere and yet it is not something that men seem to talk about with each other except apparently, as entertainment. Mister Hartmann, you have nailed the crux of the problem, toxic masculinity. We need balance and that means good men calling out the bad and a full partnership with women if we are to survive.
Partly genetics. Males mature later. May be later development of the amygdala.
When I was a kid, every male had to confront the draft. We started learning to drill in elementary school. Most of our sports required physical contact. -- using violent techniques that are now outlawed. Advertising and mass psychology made guns and other implements of violence attractive. Ask a 12 year old boy to draw, and without prompting most draw guns and knives.
In large part, the political phenomenon is rejection of the sexual revolution of the 1960s.
"Males mature later" A good read--"Journaling "--Ira Progoff. He starts out by explaining the difference between the right and left side of the human brain. Right side deals with inspiration, creativity, art, music, etc. The Left side deals with order, structure, labeling, etc. As he points out the process, a musician is inspired by a tune, picking it out on a guiter or piano, moves the thought over. In moving through, right to left, it produces a complete thought, makes the thought real, or it is "realized". This by explaining "Journaling", or simply keeping a diary. Here and in other sources, girls who begin a diary in say the third grade and continue to do so until their senior year, are already four years ahead of boys in reliable maturation. Many boys, many, stay stuck in the eighth grade maturity level. Note that the iconic American hero type is the cowboy, but not the cowboy of actual history. As influentially depicted in film, the actions and temperament of the cowboy are those of the eighth-grade punk, impatience, immaturity, machismo reactionary response, and dissing females to elevate their status by gender. These cultural influences are stronger than the history itself. These maturity levels are not universal in all cases, but through film, media reporting, and corporate product pimping, they are further influenced more than through historical reality. Sitting through all this cultural corporate influencing are women, suffering through it all while already being more mature, much more able to sort the immature crap from the real. As this current tragedy unfolds in America, it is clearly evident that only women will save the nation. And the right knows this, hence all the current dissing of the females and the pumped-up machismo theatre.
Very interesting and I agree. Perhaps that early development along with having to figure how to do things without brute strength has lead us to become the communicators we are…..as negatively confirmed by all the many cartoons and jokes about women always blabbing. We cooperate…the Iroquois understood and respected this by having two councils, a make and female that would come together to discuss issues, I believe I have that right.
Totally agree with you on the cowboy myth. Use to enjoy cowboy movies but once your eyes are open to the history it is nothing but thousands of shell shocked men, countless desperate women with no man to protect them…resulting in many becoming seamstress (prostitutes). Always depicted for the male fantasy as being pretty or beautiful.
The advertising messages have been devastating to women in terms of our self confidence. Placing all the importance on being pretty enough. To the point there was only one body type that that was acceptable. I am no longer proud to be an American and in large part that is due to the clearly misogynistic attitudes by so many. For crying out loud we haven’t had a woman leader….despite two excellently qualified women.
If women are not allowed to. balance out the masculine toxicity as well as changing the very male “there can be only one” at the top. I fear humankind will kill itself and everything else off.
Wow Gerald, very good. Your description of the 8th grade punk,described me and all of my friends in 8th grade. I grew out of it. one exception that my attitude towards females.
Raised by a single mom, who was also a disciplinarian, I grew up respecting women,still do. Perhaps that accounts for my traitorous insight into males.
I've taken courses in stuff like painting with the right side of the brain, writing with the right side. I loaned my copy re writing using the right brain to one of my law clerks who now teaches a class.
While I agreed about the backlash of the women’s 1960’s movement, I am really shocked after 60 years of supposed integration, changes in messaging, that there are so many young men susceptible to misogyny. I don’t understand it. Unless it is confusion of changing roles. No firm, “advertised” male role model. Thom Hartmann is right, there obviously needs to be new definition of what a man is. It requires a softening just as women have had the courage to step into more physically active roles. This integration of the action that men are wired for has resulted in the extreme , that to be acceptable we have to be a warriors or action figures. Lord almighty. No, we need the input of women but equally men need to decide how they define themselve in a world of equality with women and what they do with their frontal lobe tendencies and the very real and too often violent behaviors toward women.
IMHO it's taught in gym...less so now that there are some sports like soccer and volleyball where all kids can participate. Big change after the draft was abolished.
The sadistic aspect is probably attractive to a minority, who are probably devient. This gets picked up via an IEP and by tests like the MMPI.
At one time I represented school districts, later heard disabiliy cases. Research suggests that conduct disorder, a condition often associated with antisocial behavior, affects approximately 2-10% of the population, with higher rates among boys. Not all children with conduct disorder develop Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) in adulthood, and the prevalence of ASPD in the general population is lower, around 1-4% in men and 0.5-1% in women.
I've attended seminars for judges by neurogists, by psychiatrists, had parades of experts appear in my cases, and they identfy aberrant amygdala formation.
Given that the amygdala, a pair of almond-shaped structures in the brain, plays a crucial role in processing emotions, particularly fear and the formation of emotional memories. It assesses emotional stimuli, triggers the fight-or-flight response, and helps consolidate memories associated with strong emotions
What then is aberrant amygdala formation? No fight or flight response?
So you are saying that the current physical violence of our time is solely as a result of the sexual revolution that gave women freedom? The inequality between the sexes and the violence it generates has been very evident since ownership came into the picture. Probably before as well. Am I misunderstanding you?
Yes but as I said in my reply….after 60 years? Wonder what percentage of young males are actually threatened by women….not that they are the only ones who abuse women.
The Right had been very good at propagandizing young men that they are inherently "better" then women and are entitled to do whatever they want with them. Much of it had done from the evangelicals, who preach female inferiority, male domination, etc. I'm not certain they are threatened by women. Maybe they are, at least strong, independent women.
Many youn men have no goal, no purpose. With the increase in anomie there is a linkage to increases in violence to women, including rape and femicide. Just because there is testosterone doesn't mean men must necessarily be abusive; in many (most?) ways it is culturally driven.
Lack of purpose is a big one. I know of plenty of men are good guys and wouldn’t ever harm a woman. But it is disturbing to say the least when one looks at the rape and child abuse stats. How much of that is driven by testosterone, how much by hatred
Thank you, Thom Hartmann. You have made so many good points here. Thanks for understanding the bigger picture. Thanks for evolving. So many of us have been working so hard to have basic rights to our own bodies, our own futures. It’s exhausting. We won’t go back!
Epstein and TRump also shared women just like the jets.
So many horror stories out there! Epstein explained how TRump would lure a married guy into an arrangement to be with a girl. He'd record their call and blackmail the guy by threatening to play it for his wife. Sometimes the price was that he wanted to sleep with the guy's wife. Sick. Sounds like a movie plot. Wonder if there are statements about that in the "files". Michael Wolff recorded Epstein and those recordings are damning.
There is a lesson here, when you have a President that is a psychopath with his own extensive WIKI page listing his sexual assault victims.
And Thom, you have really done your research on this subject. You've been telling us for years that the most dangerous substance on earth is testosterone. We all need to help young men figure out something productive to do with that energy. It's also about teaching boundaries for all genders.
More education, not less! Better examples! See you in the streets for Good Trouble Day.
Trump was actually a competitor -- was in the teen pagent biz, owned a modelling agency that imported underage girls using "talent" visas.
The Miami Herald identified 60+ victims, most who had litigation.
From Google, here's a summary of key areas in ongoing civil litigation:
1. Lawsuits against Epstein's estate
After his death, several civil lawsuits were filed against Epstein's estate by alleged victims seeking compensation for the harm they suffered.
The Epstein Victims' Compensation Fund was established as a voluntary restitution program, paying out over $120 million to 136 survivors.
While many claims were settled through this fund or privately, some lawsuits against the estate remain active, and the estate is still under probate court supervision in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
2. Suits against financial institutions
Several of Epstein's victims have sued banks that handled his finances, alleging that these institutions ignored red flags about his illicit activities and profited from his crimes.
JPMorgan Chase settled a class-action lawsuit brought by Epstein survivors for $290 million.
Deutsche Bank also reached a $75 million settlement with Epstein's accusers.
3. Lawsuits against alleged enablers and associates
Beyond Epstein and the banks, victims have pursued legal action against individuals believed to have facilitated or participated in his sex trafficking operation.
In 2024, lawsuits were filed against Epstein's former lawyer, his longtime accountant, and a renowned psychiatrist, accusing them of aiding and abetting his activities.
Former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta faced scrutiny and a Department of Justice probe regarding his handling of an earlier non-prosecution agreement with Epstein.
4. Other notable civil litigation
Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein victim, filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew, accusing him of sexual abuse. This case was settled out of court, and Prince Andrew expressed regret for his association with Epstein.
Giuffre also filed a defamation lawsuit against lawyer Alan Dershowitz, though this case was eventually dismissed after Giuffre stated she may have been mistaken in identifying him.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and convicted accomplice, also faced a defamation lawsuit from Giuffre which was settled in 2017.
5. Status of the litigation
While significant settlements have been reached, civil litigation related to Epstein's crimes continues.
Epstein's estate is still involved in legal battles, and some individuals and institutions continue to face accusations and lawsuits.
Legal representatives for victims emphasize their commitment to pursuing justice and accountability from all those involved in Epstein's sex trafficking ring.
Thanks, William. Read both parts, and I have read a book about Epstein. He was on suicide watch, because he had already tried. Not one damn thing makes sense about that prison, and now we know the tape was tampered with. SOMEBODY KNOWS. Maybe he arranged things so he could do it---or someone else did and TOLD him to do it (even the first try). The damage never ends within the orbit of these psychopaths.
I've seen the tape, and the door to the cell is solid, no bars, There is nothing in the cell with which he could hang himself from, much less tie a rope or sheet around. Now why the media, who have people smarter than me, especially MSNBC, point out the obvious is beyond me. Well it really isn't, they are afraid of sticking their neck out. Trump or someone will sue them, maybe Brian L Roberts, the CEO and Chairman of Comcast, which owns NBC Universal which owns MSNBC is in the Epstein book.
I stand with Tucker Carlson, for different reasons, on this one. Sometimes a broken clock....
Thank you Thom! You are absolutely right. We need better role models for young men. We also need to remind young women what things were really like before women had today's freedoms. In the 1970s my husband and I opened a joint bank account into which we both deposited. One day I went into the back to withdraw money and they refused to allow me to do that without my husband's permission!
As I keep sayin' it's partly a maturation issue -- at least for males. Many have an emotional -- as opposed to a chonological age - stuck in puberty.
The other thing is the sociology of the "gang bang." Gang rape is a brutal sexual victimization, most often by a group of fraternity brothers or members of an athletic team. It is a crime.
From Google: Gang rape, also known as multiple perpetrator rape (MPR) or group rape, is a form of sexual violence committed by two or more individuals against a single victim. Sociological research explores the complex interplay of factors that contribute to this phenomenon, including social dynamics, cultural influences, and power structures.
Key sociological aspects
Group processes and dynamics:
Shared identity: Gang rapes are often perpetrated by groups with a shared identity, such as affiliation with the same street gang, ethnic group, or residence.
Peer pressure and conformity: Individuals within a group may be influenced by peer pressure and a desire to conform to group norms, potentially leading them to participate in or tolerate such acts.
Leader-follower dynamics: Studies suggest that in some cases, a dominant leader may instigate the violence, and other members may mimic their behavior, creating a social norm that reinforces and escalates the aggression.
Dehumanization: Perpetrators often dehumanize the victim, both before and during the rape, making it easier to justify their actions.
Cultural and societal factors:
Rape culture and myths: Societies that normalize sexual violence, blame victims, and perpetuate harmful myths about rape can contribute to a climate where gang rape is more likely to occur and less likely to be reported or addressed effectively.
Gender inequality and roles: Traditional gender roles and power imbalances can create environments where men feel entitled to women's bodies and where violence against women is normalized or even encouraged. According to ScienceDirect.com, endorsing rape myths allows women to believe they have control over being victims of sexual assault if they behave in the “right” or “good” manner.
Specific contexts: Certain social contexts, such as military units, gangs, fraternities, and some sports teams, have been identified as having dynamics that make them more prone to sexual assault, including gang rape.
Motivations for gang rape:
Sexual entitlement and prowess: Some perpetrators are driven by a sense of sexual entitlement and a desire to assert their dominance or "sexual prowess".
Anger and vengeance: Gang rape can be motivated by anger and a desire for revenge, either against the victim personally or against a rival group or community.
War and conflict: In situations of war or civil unrest, gang rape may be used as a tool of warfare, to terrorize populations, assert control, or punish enemies.
Targeting specific groups: In some cases, gang rape may target individuals based on their race, ethnicity, or religion as a form of hate crime or discrimination.
Impact and response
Impact on victims: Gang rape victims experience greater physical and psychological trauma compared to victims of individual rape, with higher rates of completed rape, physical injury, and psychological distress such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal thoughts.
Societal responses: Responses to gang rape involve a combination of legal frameworks, educational programs, public awareness campaigns, community vigilance, and support services for survivors. Legal frameworks, such as consent-based laws, aim to prosecute perpetrators and deter future offenses. Education and awareness initiatives challenge harmful norms and promote consent. Support services help survivors heal and seek justice.
Addressing gang rape
Preventing gang rape requires a multifaceted approach that includes:
Challenging rape culture and myths: Actively working to dismantle societal attitudes that minimize sexual violence and blame victims, according to EBSCO.
Promoting gender equality: Addressing power imbalances between genders and fostering respectful relationships.
Targeting specific contexts: Implementing interventions in high-risk environments like gangs and certain social groups.
Strengthening legal frameworks: Ensuring laws adequately define consent, address various forms of sexual violence, and are effectively enforced.
Providing comprehensive support services: Offering counseling, legal assistance, and advocacy to survivors.
In conclusion, the sociology of gang rape highlights the complex social and cultural factors that contribute to this devastating crime. Addressing these factors through a combination of social change, education, and legal and support systems is essential to prevent future occurrences and promote a more just and equitable society for all.
There is a bigger agenda at play here that underlies this toxic masculinity scenario. There is a battle of Light versus Dark being fought throughout the planet. What the Dark fears more than anything is the collective rise of conscious expressions of spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is something that has been buried by institutional religious dogma for thousands of years. As we move into the Age of Aquarius, we are witnessing a rebirth of conscious awareness unparalleled in history. The Dark, under the guise of patriarchy domination and control, is trying to sabotage this rising tide of human right to a Divinely inspired environment by seeking to pass laws that distract and burden the people with chaos and confusion. They will fail. The Darkness always implodes into itself and we will see more and more "Epstein" type of dramas playing themselves out as these fools continue to trip over their own feet. There are more men out here that are centered and grounded into themselves than there are these socially inept techie bros. Equality can only exist when mutual respect and honoring is in play. The lost and lonely boys, who have no understanding of respect and honoring, and who have managed to gain power in this country, have only a short time to exist.
Lucifer a name given to Venus as the Morning Star, the morning star is the bringer of light. It arises in the east just before the sun rises, thus the light bringer and the bane of the early Roman church, and through them all of Christianity and it's many offspring cults.
Light is the enemy of darkness, it drives out the dark,and religion flourishes in darkness.
The bible, old and new,is ,if nothing,but astrology.
Luke 22:10
As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters,
The man carrying a pitcher of water is Aquarius, the water bearer, and the house in which he enters is an astrological house
In Job 38:22 is mentioned the Zodiac (Mazzeroth) or the great year.
Aquarius has dawned but it is not turning out as so hoped. No peace and understanding, just the opposite, hate,war andbigotry abounding.
My dad, his brother, their dad, my gpa, many uncles and older cousins, fought in WW1 and 2, lived through the Depression, the Dust Bowl, the Haystack Rebellion. Most were farmers or blue collar men. Had wives and kids, mostly girls. I was one of a very few males. My dad's side of the family, not religious but not atheist. Laughter, good food, light talk, hard work made my growing up male life educational. Nobody then had any masculinity issues, not even boys my age. We had a few closet gay guys, no big deal for most, they were just part of the crowd.
Now, every commercial and every social oriented TV or made for TV movie/episodic show has buff men, all with beards, you have to look hard to find a clean face. They all act either like assassins or jackasses. On the street, male insecurity is high, via clothing, facial covering, cars, shoes, jewelry, glasses, lingo, gym-nastyics, gun lore, booze behaviors, and YES, Tons of porn. They all talk about it and they love the idea of submissive arm candy. I once looked at porn 12 years ago, and it absolutely floored me. As bad as torture in some black site with misogyny on steroids and brutal violence.
This what passes for manhood in the TFG Nazi 'murka.
Not mentioned, but IMO, Rap culture has done much that adds to the toxicity. My son is now 39, but during his formative years, he and his friends listened to "underground" Hip Hop more than any other genre. I must have done something right, as he is most considerate of women - caring, compassionate and polite. He's always separated entertainment from reality, but that music consistently referred to women as "bitches and whores" - there to mainly serve at the pleasure of men. Just the worst. Today's toxicity is real, but for me it's incomprehensible. As usual, your article puts it into perspective. Thank you.
Isecond you on the rap culture Michael. Here is something to consider. Cultures which worship the male, coddle the male, and produce the most misogynistic of men and are themselves misogynistic cultures.
Men raised in these cultures have a madonna or whore attitude towards women.
Arabic women coddle their male children, in Arabia the women inthe family will take turns carrying him around evenplaying with his penis, and it is not unusual for a boy of 6 to nurse off his mothers teat, And I can't think of any culture that is more misogynistic
There are other cultures, where the boy is treated as if his a god, and grows up a Momma's boy, and views women as whores to be used.
That's what they used to say about blues and rock and roll when I was a kid. Stations in the north would not play "race" music before Alan Freed. Even in black culture, Ray Charles, Little Richard were accused of playing "devil's music."
In the south there were black owned stations, but virtually none had enough power to reach very far. WLAC Nashville was 50,000 watts, at night played blues.
I've been taking courses..my current class...IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA: STORIES OF JAZZ, BLUES, ROCK AND POPULAR CULTURE * OLLI at UM. The teacher is Venezuelan... Just got his citizenship.
Indeed. He is ok. I'm not for censorship, especially in music. It's a gut reaction to the blatant disparaging of women, and it does some harm - re: diddy. For me, it's more an observation than a call for any kind of censorship. IMO, there's something seriously wrong with a culture that glorifies such shite. And I am the quintessential "old hippie." It's absolutely a personal observation - I see nothing positive in so many of the lyrics I have heard. I was in radio way back in the 80's, and I was taken aback when rap went "gangsta." I have also shot and produced rap videos. It's personal, but it never bothered me so much that I turned down any work!
I don't think Trump was ever going to release anything on Epstein, he's a part of it why would he do that. He just never thought it would become such a big deal. Case filed in 2016 regarding a rape of a 13 year old by Trump and Epstein. Case was withdrawn after threats made to plaintiff and her family.
Thank you for this. I have been very distressed as a woman who fought for women’s rights in the 70’s at how our culture, world , has absolutely refused to address the elephant in the room. The masculine toxicity of our world. For thousands of years it has determined what happens with little if no input from women. It accomplishes this through violence to women. Rape is everywhere and yet it is not something that men seem to talk about with each other except apparently, as entertainment. Mister Hartmann, you have nailed the crux of the problem, toxic masculinity. We need balance and that means good men calling out the bad and a full partnership with women if we are to survive.
Partly genetics. Males mature later. May be later development of the amygdala.
When I was a kid, every male had to confront the draft. We started learning to drill in elementary school. Most of our sports required physical contact. -- using violent techniques that are now outlawed. Advertising and mass psychology made guns and other implements of violence attractive. Ask a 12 year old boy to draw, and without prompting most draw guns and knives.
In large part, the political phenomenon is rejection of the sexual revolution of the 1960s.
"Males mature later" A good read--"Journaling "--Ira Progoff. He starts out by explaining the difference between the right and left side of the human brain. Right side deals with inspiration, creativity, art, music, etc. The Left side deals with order, structure, labeling, etc. As he points out the process, a musician is inspired by a tune, picking it out on a guiter or piano, moves the thought over. In moving through, right to left, it produces a complete thought, makes the thought real, or it is "realized". This by explaining "Journaling", or simply keeping a diary. Here and in other sources, girls who begin a diary in say the third grade and continue to do so until their senior year, are already four years ahead of boys in reliable maturation. Many boys, many, stay stuck in the eighth grade maturity level. Note that the iconic American hero type is the cowboy, but not the cowboy of actual history. As influentially depicted in film, the actions and temperament of the cowboy are those of the eighth-grade punk, impatience, immaturity, machismo reactionary response, and dissing females to elevate their status by gender. These cultural influences are stronger than the history itself. These maturity levels are not universal in all cases, but through film, media reporting, and corporate product pimping, they are further influenced more than through historical reality. Sitting through all this cultural corporate influencing are women, suffering through it all while already being more mature, much more able to sort the immature crap from the real. As this current tragedy unfolds in America, it is clearly evident that only women will save the nation. And the right knows this, hence all the current dissing of the females and the pumped-up machismo theatre.
Very interesting and I agree. Perhaps that early development along with having to figure how to do things without brute strength has lead us to become the communicators we are…..as negatively confirmed by all the many cartoons and jokes about women always blabbing. We cooperate…the Iroquois understood and respected this by having two councils, a make and female that would come together to discuss issues, I believe I have that right.
Totally agree with you on the cowboy myth. Use to enjoy cowboy movies but once your eyes are open to the history it is nothing but thousands of shell shocked men, countless desperate women with no man to protect them…resulting in many becoming seamstress (prostitutes). Always depicted for the male fantasy as being pretty or beautiful.
The advertising messages have been devastating to women in terms of our self confidence. Placing all the importance on being pretty enough. To the point there was only one body type that that was acceptable. I am no longer proud to be an American and in large part that is due to the clearly misogynistic attitudes by so many. For crying out loud we haven’t had a woman leader….despite two excellently qualified women.
If women are not allowed to. balance out the masculine toxicity as well as changing the very male “there can be only one” at the top. I fear humankind will kill itself and everything else off.
Wow Gerald, very good. Your description of the 8th grade punk,described me and all of my friends in 8th grade. I grew out of it. one exception that my attitude towards females.
Raised by a single mom, who was also a disciplinarian, I grew up respecting women,still do. Perhaps that accounts for my traitorous insight into males.
That right vs left is another analysis.
I've taken courses in stuff like painting with the right side of the brain, writing with the right side. I loaned my copy re writing using the right brain to one of my law clerks who now teaches a class.
Many (if not most) of the artists who were avant guard were left handed. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/left-handed-artists-1439902
I took many drawing courses. The first day I took drawing with the right brain, the teacher told us to draw upside down. Voila!
While I agreed about the backlash of the women’s 1960’s movement, I am really shocked after 60 years of supposed integration, changes in messaging, that there are so many young men susceptible to misogyny. I don’t understand it. Unless it is confusion of changing roles. No firm, “advertised” male role model. Thom Hartmann is right, there obviously needs to be new definition of what a man is. It requires a softening just as women have had the courage to step into more physically active roles. This integration of the action that men are wired for has resulted in the extreme , that to be acceptable we have to be a warriors or action figures. Lord almighty. No, we need the input of women but equally men need to decide how they define themselve in a world of equality with women and what they do with their frontal lobe tendencies and the very real and too often violent behaviors toward women.
IMHO it's taught in gym...less so now that there are some sports like soccer and volleyball where all kids can participate. Big change after the draft was abolished.
The sadistic aspect is probably attractive to a minority, who are probably devient. This gets picked up via an IEP and by tests like the MMPI.
At one time I represented school districts, later heard disabiliy cases. Research suggests that conduct disorder, a condition often associated with antisocial behavior, affects approximately 2-10% of the population, with higher rates among boys. Not all children with conduct disorder develop Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) in adulthood, and the prevalence of ASPD in the general population is lower, around 1-4% in men and 0.5-1% in women.
Thanks. Lower than I expected
Daniel it would be later development of the pre frontal cortex, the amydala is active from birth, it is natures early warning system.
I've attended seminars for judges by neurogists, by psychiatrists, had parades of experts appear in my cases, and they identfy aberrant amygdala formation.
Given that the amygdala, a pair of almond-shaped structures in the brain, plays a crucial role in processing emotions, particularly fear and the formation of emotional memories. It assesses emotional stimuli, triggers the fight-or-flight response, and helps consolidate memories associated with strong emotions
What then is aberrant amygdala formation? No fight or flight response?
So you are saying that the current physical violence of our time is solely as a result of the sexual revolution that gave women freedom? The inequality between the sexes and the violence it generates has been very evident since ownership came into the picture. Probably before as well. Am I misunderstanding you?
Did I say solely? Nah.
It's a rationalization for their hostility.
Yes but as I said in my reply….after 60 years? Wonder what percentage of young males are actually threatened by women….not that they are the only ones who abuse women.
The Right had been very good at propagandizing young men that they are inherently "better" then women and are entitled to do whatever they want with them. Much of it had done from the evangelicals, who preach female inferiority, male domination, etc. I'm not certain they are threatened by women. Maybe they are, at least strong, independent women.
Many youn men have no goal, no purpose. With the increase in anomie there is a linkage to increases in violence to women, including rape and femicide. Just because there is testosterone doesn't mean men must necessarily be abusive; in many (most?) ways it is culturally driven.
Lack of purpose is a big one. I know of plenty of men are good guys and wouldn’t ever harm a woman. But it is disturbing to say the least when one looks at the rape and child abuse stats. How much of that is driven by testosterone, how much by hatred
Catherine you might be interested in my comment, after yours. I expect it to be controversial as it steps on some toes
"What we need instead is a redefinition of masculinity: strength defined by compassion, power defined by service, leadership defined by respect."
Damn right! This column is brilliant!
Thank you, Thom Hartmann. You have made so many good points here. Thanks for understanding the bigger picture. Thanks for evolving. So many of us have been working so hard to have basic rights to our own bodies, our own futures. It’s exhausting. We won’t go back!
Epstein and TRump also shared women just like the jets.
So many horror stories out there! Epstein explained how TRump would lure a married guy into an arrangement to be with a girl. He'd record their call and blackmail the guy by threatening to play it for his wife. Sometimes the price was that he wanted to sleep with the guy's wife. Sick. Sounds like a movie plot. Wonder if there are statements about that in the "files". Michael Wolff recorded Epstein and those recordings are damning.
There is a lesson here, when you have a President that is a psychopath with his own extensive WIKI page listing his sexual assault victims.
And Thom, you have really done your research on this subject. You've been telling us for years that the most dangerous substance on earth is testosterone. We all need to help young men figure out something productive to do with that energy. It's also about teaching boundaries for all genders.
More education, not less! Better examples! See you in the streets for Good Trouble Day.
Trump was actually a competitor -- was in the teen pagent biz, owned a modelling agency that imported underage girls using "talent" visas.
The Miami Herald identified 60+ victims, most who had litigation.
From Google, here's a summary of key areas in ongoing civil litigation:
1. Lawsuits against Epstein's estate
After his death, several civil lawsuits were filed against Epstein's estate by alleged victims seeking compensation for the harm they suffered.
The Epstein Victims' Compensation Fund was established as a voluntary restitution program, paying out over $120 million to 136 survivors.
While many claims were settled through this fund or privately, some lawsuits against the estate remain active, and the estate is still under probate court supervision in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
2. Suits against financial institutions
Several of Epstein's victims have sued banks that handled his finances, alleging that these institutions ignored red flags about his illicit activities and profited from his crimes.
JPMorgan Chase settled a class-action lawsuit brought by Epstein survivors for $290 million.
Deutsche Bank also reached a $75 million settlement with Epstein's accusers.
3. Lawsuits against alleged enablers and associates
Beyond Epstein and the banks, victims have pursued legal action against individuals believed to have facilitated or participated in his sex trafficking operation.
In 2024, lawsuits were filed against Epstein's former lawyer, his longtime accountant, and a renowned psychiatrist, accusing them of aiding and abetting his activities.
Former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta faced scrutiny and a Department of Justice probe regarding his handling of an earlier non-prosecution agreement with Epstein.
4. Other notable civil litigation
Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein victim, filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew, accusing him of sexual abuse. This case was settled out of court, and Prince Andrew expressed regret for his association with Epstein.
Giuffre also filed a defamation lawsuit against lawyer Alan Dershowitz, though this case was eventually dismissed after Giuffre stated she may have been mistaken in identifying him.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and convicted accomplice, also faced a defamation lawsuit from Giuffre which was settled in 2017.
5. Status of the litigation
While significant settlements have been reached, civil litigation related to Epstein's crimes continues.
Epstein's estate is still involved in legal battles, and some individuals and institutions continue to face accusations and lawsuits.
Legal representatives for victims emphasize their commitment to pursuing justice and accountability from all those involved in Epstein's sex trafficking ring.
JPMorgan reaches $290 mil.
Alis on the subject of Epstein:
A forensic assessment of the ligature on Epsteins neck from the autopsy photo's
https://michaeldsellers.substack.com/p/epstein-a-forensic-assessment-of
A "deeper look" an analysis of the night Epstein died
https://michaeldsellers.substack.com/p/epstein-part-2-a-deeper-look-analysis
Thanks, William. Read both parts, and I have read a book about Epstein. He was on suicide watch, because he had already tried. Not one damn thing makes sense about that prison, and now we know the tape was tampered with. SOMEBODY KNOWS. Maybe he arranged things so he could do it---or someone else did and TOLD him to do it (even the first try). The damage never ends within the orbit of these psychopaths.
I've seen the tape, and the door to the cell is solid, no bars, There is nothing in the cell with which he could hang himself from, much less tie a rope or sheet around. Now why the media, who have people smarter than me, especially MSNBC, point out the obvious is beyond me. Well it really isn't, they are afraid of sticking their neck out. Trump or someone will sue them, maybe Brian L Roberts, the CEO and Chairman of Comcast, which owns NBC Universal which owns MSNBC is in the Epstein book.
I stand with Tucker Carlson, for different reasons, on this one. Sometimes a broken clock....
Thank you Thom! You are absolutely right. We need better role models for young men. We also need to remind young women what things were really like before women had today's freedoms. In the 1970s my husband and I opened a joint bank account into which we both deposited. One day I went into the back to withdraw money and they refused to allow me to do that without my husband's permission!
As I keep sayin' it's partly a maturation issue -- at least for males. Many have an emotional -- as opposed to a chonological age - stuck in puberty.
The other thing is the sociology of the "gang bang." Gang rape is a brutal sexual victimization, most often by a group of fraternity brothers or members of an athletic team. It is a crime.
From Google: Gang rape, also known as multiple perpetrator rape (MPR) or group rape, is a form of sexual violence committed by two or more individuals against a single victim. Sociological research explores the complex interplay of factors that contribute to this phenomenon, including social dynamics, cultural influences, and power structures.
Key sociological aspects
Group processes and dynamics:
Shared identity: Gang rapes are often perpetrated by groups with a shared identity, such as affiliation with the same street gang, ethnic group, or residence.
Peer pressure and conformity: Individuals within a group may be influenced by peer pressure and a desire to conform to group norms, potentially leading them to participate in or tolerate such acts.
Leader-follower dynamics: Studies suggest that in some cases, a dominant leader may instigate the violence, and other members may mimic their behavior, creating a social norm that reinforces and escalates the aggression.
Dehumanization: Perpetrators often dehumanize the victim, both before and during the rape, making it easier to justify their actions.
Cultural and societal factors:
Rape culture and myths: Societies that normalize sexual violence, blame victims, and perpetuate harmful myths about rape can contribute to a climate where gang rape is more likely to occur and less likely to be reported or addressed effectively.
Gender inequality and roles: Traditional gender roles and power imbalances can create environments where men feel entitled to women's bodies and where violence against women is normalized or even encouraged. According to ScienceDirect.com, endorsing rape myths allows women to believe they have control over being victims of sexual assault if they behave in the “right” or “good” manner.
Specific contexts: Certain social contexts, such as military units, gangs, fraternities, and some sports teams, have been identified as having dynamics that make them more prone to sexual assault, including gang rape.
Motivations for gang rape:
Sexual entitlement and prowess: Some perpetrators are driven by a sense of sexual entitlement and a desire to assert their dominance or "sexual prowess".
Anger and vengeance: Gang rape can be motivated by anger and a desire for revenge, either against the victim personally or against a rival group or community.
War and conflict: In situations of war or civil unrest, gang rape may be used as a tool of warfare, to terrorize populations, assert control, or punish enemies.
Targeting specific groups: In some cases, gang rape may target individuals based on their race, ethnicity, or religion as a form of hate crime or discrimination.
Impact and response
Impact on victims: Gang rape victims experience greater physical and psychological trauma compared to victims of individual rape, with higher rates of completed rape, physical injury, and psychological distress such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal thoughts.
Societal responses: Responses to gang rape involve a combination of legal frameworks, educational programs, public awareness campaigns, community vigilance, and support services for survivors. Legal frameworks, such as consent-based laws, aim to prosecute perpetrators and deter future offenses. Education and awareness initiatives challenge harmful norms and promote consent. Support services help survivors heal and seek justice.
Addressing gang rape
Preventing gang rape requires a multifaceted approach that includes:
Challenging rape culture and myths: Actively working to dismantle societal attitudes that minimize sexual violence and blame victims, according to EBSCO.
Promoting gender equality: Addressing power imbalances between genders and fostering respectful relationships.
Targeting specific contexts: Implementing interventions in high-risk environments like gangs and certain social groups.
Strengthening legal frameworks: Ensuring laws adequately define consent, address various forms of sexual violence, and are effectively enforced.
Providing comprehensive support services: Offering counseling, legal assistance, and advocacy to survivors.
In conclusion, the sociology of gang rape highlights the complex social and cultural factors that contribute to this devastating crime. Addressing these factors through a combination of social change, education, and legal and support systems is essential to prevent future occurrences and promote a more just and equitable society for all.
This version of manhood seems to require men to justify doing the diametric opposite of what the golden rule describes.
Trump and psychopaths would say that the golden rule if is for suckers and losers.
If they lived by the golden rule for one minute, they would not be rich and powerful.
There is a bigger agenda at play here that underlies this toxic masculinity scenario. There is a battle of Light versus Dark being fought throughout the planet. What the Dark fears more than anything is the collective rise of conscious expressions of spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is something that has been buried by institutional religious dogma for thousands of years. As we move into the Age of Aquarius, we are witnessing a rebirth of conscious awareness unparalleled in history. The Dark, under the guise of patriarchy domination and control, is trying to sabotage this rising tide of human right to a Divinely inspired environment by seeking to pass laws that distract and burden the people with chaos and confusion. They will fail. The Darkness always implodes into itself and we will see more and more "Epstein" type of dramas playing themselves out as these fools continue to trip over their own feet. There are more men out here that are centered and grounded into themselves than there are these socially inept techie bros. Equality can only exist when mutual respect and honoring is in play. The lost and lonely boys, who have no understanding of respect and honoring, and who have managed to gain power in this country, have only a short time to exist.
Lucifer a name given to Venus as the Morning Star, the morning star is the bringer of light. It arises in the east just before the sun rises, thus the light bringer and the bane of the early Roman church, and through them all of Christianity and it's many offspring cults.
Light is the enemy of darkness, it drives out the dark,and religion flourishes in darkness.
The bible, old and new,is ,if nothing,but astrology.
Luke 22:10
As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters,
The man carrying a pitcher of water is Aquarius, the water bearer, and the house in which he enters is an astrological house
In Job 38:22 is mentioned the Zodiac (Mazzeroth) or the great year.
Aquarius has dawned but it is not turning out as so hoped. No peace and understanding, just the opposite, hate,war andbigotry abounding.
Beautifully stated and so insightful! Thank you. So many comments here confirm that you have highlighted a crucial issue and explored it superbly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebensborn
Sound familiar?
My dad, his brother, their dad, my gpa, many uncles and older cousins, fought in WW1 and 2, lived through the Depression, the Dust Bowl, the Haystack Rebellion. Most were farmers or blue collar men. Had wives and kids, mostly girls. I was one of a very few males. My dad's side of the family, not religious but not atheist. Laughter, good food, light talk, hard work made my growing up male life educational. Nobody then had any masculinity issues, not even boys my age. We had a few closet gay guys, no big deal for most, they were just part of the crowd.
Now, every commercial and every social oriented TV or made for TV movie/episodic show has buff men, all with beards, you have to look hard to find a clean face. They all act either like assassins or jackasses. On the street, male insecurity is high, via clothing, facial covering, cars, shoes, jewelry, glasses, lingo, gym-nastyics, gun lore, booze behaviors, and YES, Tons of porn. They all talk about it and they love the idea of submissive arm candy. I once looked at porn 12 years ago, and it absolutely floored me. As bad as torture in some black site with misogyny on steroids and brutal violence.
This what passes for manhood in the TFG Nazi 'murka.
IMHO, there is nothing more masculine than a good father.
I was very fortunate to have good men in my life growing up. My maternal grandfather was a monster according to his own family.
Not mentioned, but IMO, Rap culture has done much that adds to the toxicity. My son is now 39, but during his formative years, he and his friends listened to "underground" Hip Hop more than any other genre. I must have done something right, as he is most considerate of women - caring, compassionate and polite. He's always separated entertainment from reality, but that music consistently referred to women as "bitches and whores" - there to mainly serve at the pleasure of men. Just the worst. Today's toxicity is real, but for me it's incomprehensible. As usual, your article puts it into perspective. Thank you.
Isecond you on the rap culture Michael. Here is something to consider. Cultures which worship the male, coddle the male, and produce the most misogynistic of men and are themselves misogynistic cultures.
Men raised in these cultures have a madonna or whore attitude towards women.
Arabic women coddle their male children, in Arabia the women inthe family will take turns carrying him around evenplaying with his penis, and it is not unusual for a boy of 6 to nurse off his mothers teat, And I can't think of any culture that is more misogynistic
There are other cultures, where the boy is treated as if his a god, and grows up a Momma's boy, and views women as whores to be used.
That's what they used to say about blues and rock and roll when I was a kid. Stations in the north would not play "race" music before Alan Freed. Even in black culture, Ray Charles, Little Richard were accused of playing "devil's music."
In the south there were black owned stations, but virtually none had enough power to reach very far. WLAC Nashville was 50,000 watts, at night played blues.
I've been taking courses..my current class...IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA: STORIES OF JAZZ, BLUES, ROCK AND POPULAR CULTURE * OLLI at UM. The teacher is Venezuelan... Just got his citizenship.
I am a big fan of putumayo.. https://www.putumayo.com/
Hip hop is the child of "talking blues". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_blues
Bob Dylan - Talkin' World War III Blues, 1963. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYtVc56o9oo
A lot comes to us via Africa and Cuba. This was a big hit in America, 1963 . Havana street slang. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uZx9KnlTyg
Your comment is in response to my comment,and is totally unrelated.
Directly. His son turned out OK.
Indeed. He is ok. I'm not for censorship, especially in music. It's a gut reaction to the blatant disparaging of women, and it does some harm - re: diddy. For me, it's more an observation than a call for any kind of censorship. IMO, there's something seriously wrong with a culture that glorifies such shite. And I am the quintessential "old hippie." It's absolutely a personal observation - I see nothing positive in so many of the lyrics I have heard. I was in radio way back in the 80's, and I was taken aback when rap went "gangsta." I have also shot and produced rap videos. It's personal, but it never bothered me so much that I turned down any work!
I don't think Trump was ever going to release anything on Epstein, he's a part of it why would he do that. He just never thought it would become such a big deal. Case filed in 2016 regarding a rape of a 13 year old by Trump and Epstein. Case was withdrawn after threats made to plaintiff and her family.
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/3130729/DOE-V-TRUMP.pdf
What a great treatise! Thank you for making a necessary distinction between ignorant cavemen and upstanding critical thinkers....
Thank You Thom!
So Right, So Important, So Essential!
Don Faulkner
Few will come right out and say it. All are dancing around it. I researched why that is. I came up with a lack of transparency fueling an inferno. The truth is coming out. Exactly when remains to be seen, but it is coming. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/a-properly-probative-pedophile-president?r=3m1bs