text: Exactly. That's the script that's forced on us in all manner of media. You're lucky if a girl dates you. You're getting lucky if she has sex with you. Then you get married and that's the dream.
  Just reading some stuff and analyzing it from the point of "why am I putting women on a pedestal" alone was enough to turn my stomach and decide to do things my own way.
  I have a friend who I hardly ever associate with anymore because he "got lucky" and is dating a pretty attractive girl, who has him absolutely whipped. I just look at his life now and the way he's been conned, and I must admit, I feel good about it, as shitty as that may sound. I can see straight through the bullshit and I know exactly how its going to end. You think this guy will ever listen to a bit of advice from me? Hell no. I hear his GF talk about how so-and-so is "hot" and when so-and-so does something it's "hot." And my buddy never gets these compliments. Yet he still buys her shit, surrenders his independence in favor of her demands, and kisses her ass. Why? Because he is "lucky" to have her
  What would you tell him to prove that he is not lucky to have her? You would ask him what justify's him to put her on a pedestal, or what formula he uses to derive her worth. Something like that right? People like your ex-friend buy into the inflated value that their SO's parents install in them. "My daughter deserves a man who can buy her a BMW. (I took her out to various vacation spots, continuously bought her the latest dress, shoes, dines, and instilled a sense of entitlement)."
  His answer would be along the lines that he believes in the experiences of people and how that shapes their personality, how it's love / ignorance / bliss /escapism. These things are justifiable and can be goal worthy. Some people just want a dependent person as a spouse; another mother-like micro-manager. The definition of a princess, or a queen. This is also justifiable, as "men should only bow down to their queen". Make sacrifices on a "I give more sometimes and you give more sometimes" kind of scale.
  Making him, or anyone, figure out why he's not treating his spouse like an equal should not be your concern. He clearly does not want to be in control of his life, and neither does anyone else who accepts the whims and irrational demands of females. If a person believes the psychological abuse is justifiable, than he must be getting something out of the relationship. The core problem with people accepting RP philosophy, is that they can't accept that some men have a higher sex drive that request not to be micro-managed because of a poorly designed contract, and that men want to improve themselves without being lagged by illogical commitments. They know most people here want to legalize prostitution and restructure the marriage system. The problem is, just like the Occupy movement and such, they see people complain and provide no clear direct, sidebar linked solutions or seriously think that's how relationships are "supposed" to be.
  What I like about TRP is that every time I come here, I learn something new in the topic of self-worth and self-entitlement. Which activates my own hypergamous intentions.
  That's the problem. Now I don't condone turning GFs into stepford smilers or fulltime houswives, but we have been so thoroughly indoctrinated that it's totally backward having the female partner doing domestic chores and progressive if the male part does them, that it certainly might appear as odd - or at least odd to mention it in conversation.
  But that's what it is - progressive idiocy. Traditional gender roles (that actually work) are not 'progressive'.
  Progressives 'know better' than thousands of years of social evolution that converged on those traditions...
  The best is when the progressive social circles adopt "polyamory", and you get to fuck their women without any obligations, because some other chump is handling payments.
  See the key words right there? "I've taken control". Everything seems to fall into place once you take control in every aspect of your life.
  "Asshole" and "douchebag" seem to be applied to me when I don't comply with someone else's expectations, and instead defer to my own. What a horrible crime, eh?
  Those are what I'm concerned about. Women levy the labels when they can't manipulate a man. Men when they feel threatened by the competition or to defend their blue pill worldview.
  A genuine asshole, douchebag, misanthrope -- people wouldn't readily associate with. If it turns out they, too, do as well, and women readily fuck them, then fine, I can take being a genuine such-and-such since it offers nothing tangibly negative.
  Be glad you got such people out of your life. Unfortunately, controlling types get upset whenever you put up boundaries. :)
  Exactly. It just sucks because these were long time friends who I expected more loyalty from. Wasn't until TRP came along that I realized how true the "crab in a bucket" metaphor is. They see me try to better myself, and instead of trying to do the same, they just find it easier to try and drag me back down.
  I'm not perfect and I still have a long way to go, but you're right. There is no need for negativity in your life, especially when it comes from people who are supposed to have your back. My situation has taught me that the "bro code" everyone seems to believe exists is actually just bullshit male hamstering