Is He A Messiah For Your Child?

[JustGeorge]

"they see him as a spiritual leader, as a messiah. He saved them from the depths of their insecurity and brought them out of whatever it is that they were struggling with"

- ‘To his followers, this man is a messiah!’ Matt Shea on his long fight to expose Andrew Tate

My 17 year old had to tell me who he is, because I live under a rock.

Thankfully, I can't share my son's opinion of the man, because it would be in violation of rule 5.

 

[YmirGF]

There are few things on this Earth more dangerous than rudderless boys and young men being manipulated by a hyper-confident con man.

Heaven forbid we explore why they have no direction or have positive role models. Are there any positive male role models anymore? Sam Smith ain't making it for me.

 

[YmirGF]

My 17 year old had to tell me who he is, because I live under a rock.

Thankfully, I can't share my son's opinion of the man, because it would be in violation of rule 5.

That does sound intriguing.

 

[Secret Chief]

Just to add...
The boys who told me about him seem to have happy lives and have good parents (one lad's parents are teachers). Rudderlessness isn't a requirement.

 

[PureX]

Heaven forbid we explore why they have no direction or have positive role models. Are there any positive male role models anymore? Sam Smith ain't making it for me.

It's a problem.

Our cultural worship of selfishness masquerading as "freedom" has made us all the gods of our own domain, now. The deciders of our own truth. There's not much room in that worldview for any other heroes.

 

[JustGeorge]

Heaven forbid we explore why they have no direction or have positive role models. Are there any positive male role models anymore? Sam Smith ain't making it for me.

I don't know Sam Smith, but I addressed this question with my oldest son awhile back, and if he thought there were any acceptable male role models anymore. After some thought and consideration, he decided Shaq fit the bill. (I'm not terribly knowledgeable on him, either, but I do know who he is at least.)

 

[Stevicus]

Sadly, we humans are still genetically programmed to bow to the will of the 'alphas' among us. It's something we really, really need to get over before they manage to kill us all.

Either that, or people need to start listening to wiser 'alphas', if there even is such a thing as 'alphas' in the first place.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Either that, or people need to start listening to wiser 'alphas', if there even is such a thing as 'alphas' in the first place.

There's almost always a leader in social situations. Someone is always getting more attention and followed more than others, in my experience and observations.

 

[Stevicus]

Heaven forbid we explore why they have no direction or have positive role models. Are there any positive male role models anymore? Sam Smith ain't making it for me.

I'm sure there are reasons. The whole theme of misbegotten youth and angry young men has been a major trope in our society, reflected in the popular culture and explored in depth. I don't know how much is actually done about it at a political or governmental level. I know there have been various programs designed to help at-risk youth, but they tend to have mixed results. Like, midnight basketball is one that comes to mind as a solution to the problems facing youth and gangs.

Role models are one thing. I'm sure they could help, but it also requires some degree of hope for the future. A lot of young men are taught the ideal of self-reliance and that they have to fight, scratch, and claw for every morsal they get - and guys like Tate get a following because offers to teach them how to fight, scratch, and claw. It's a side effect of the social Darwinist culture that's become popular since the Reagan era.