Are Men's Rights Activists Stupid, Lazy, or Just Both?

I live and work in a fast-paced, confrontational world that doesn't afford me the luxury of mincing words or sugar-coating the truth. But as an increasingly prominent figure in the Men's Rights Movement, I try to be patient with those who move and think a little slower, especially the Canadians. I pray for patience but sometimes can't suppress my candor. This exchange on a recent post ("Exposing Feminism" Exposes a Rational Idea) is an example of why the Men's Rights Movement has no discernable Movement, is acheiving no additional Rights, and has failed to attract the interest or respect even from Men.

Canadian Men's Rights Activist JW Asks RS for Ideas on Fixing the MRM:

Says JW: "Women may well know that men are in trouble, that doesn't change the actions or the attitudes: It also doesn't translate into any willingness to take action to fix the problem.... "Men are abusive" "Men are deadbeats" "Men are ..." ...It's like that pretty well everywhere. It is an attitude problem of massive scale and it is getting worse. How does one change it?

"It is simple to say that's not right, it is HARD to fix a that's-not-right! In this case it is getting harder every minute. Many words ... a great many words: All saying "I do not know what to do!""

Robin Steele explain what can be done. Pretty obvious stuff, at least to RS:

RS: "This is not an unprecedented situation - or even anything new. It requires the same non-violent, educational and communication effort undertaken by every group that feels it's being treated unfairly and pushed for change, including the civil rights movement, the women's rights movement, and others. I think a step back and a deaf ear to all this anti-feminist nonsense reveals that it's not nearly as difficult as many other causes for a few reasons.

"It's simple, but not easy. First, you take baby steps. Create an image for the movement as a group of reasonable, caring people trying to fix an imbalance that hurts EVERYONE. Pick some obvious problems for starters, the ones easiest to gain a consensus for. Create a reasonable, documented and compelling case for change. Plan and execute email campaigns, coordinated blog networks that praise and criticize those who have something to gain or lose (politicians). Praise the places and people who are doing it right.

"Connect on men's rights issues everyone can relate to. We all have men we love and care about, whether sons, brothers, uncles, fathers, etc. And many people have seen the unfairness first or secondhand. The family structure is in an upheaval and we're just sorting out how to cope with a whole new ball game. Few will dispute that children need a healthy relationship with fathers and mothers.

"Use the Internet. MRAs complain that Feminists have funding, and they don't. Anybody notice that we now have at our disposal - nearly for free - the most powerful communication tool ever available? Any one with the most basic abilities can create a blog for free and have their words, images or video visible around the world in seconds. Email communication is an amazingly powerful tool that's practically free."

The Response? "We already did all that. Didn't work. Why tell us the obvious when we'd rather whine?"

jw said: "Robin! All of the things you speak of ARE being done!... now we have to deal with people writing hate campaigns in the newspapers!...How do we get around people like you telling us the OBVIOUS? Telling us to do the things we are already doing? I don't know!"

Are Men's Rights Activists Stupid, Lazy or Just Both?

RS: "You have NOT already waged an effective communications campaign. You have NOT already done so for years. If you had, you wouldn't be in the situation you're in.

"There's a self-defeating "dichotomy" (for lack of better word) with men that even you seem to be stymied by. I mean this as an observation, not an insult. You simultaneously are admittedly unsuccessful at achieving your goals, and at a loss for what to do, but also have an arrogant, know-it-all attitude that keeps you from considering helpful ideas.

"Your statement All of the things you speak of ARE being done! pinpoints a key problem. Yes, Men have a website and have for years(Angry Harry). Women have a website (Feministing.com) that's three years younger. Does that mean they've done the same thing? The women's site has 7 times the traffic, thousands more comments, tons of links to it, active and lively participation, and generates funds. It has power. Read my Angry Harry vs. Feministing Part 1 , and Angry Harry vs. Feministing Part 2 and compare the two approaches. Perhaps you'll see why Men's Rights Activists will always lose out to Women's Rights Activists.

"Robin's advice: Try taking a step back and seeing this with new eyes. You say: "...now we have to deal with people writing hate campaigns in the newspapers!"

"How is YOUR letter writing campaign going? Those stories are a GOOD OPPORTUNITY because they give you an opportunity to respond, disprove, expose with a campaign of well-crafted letters continually sent to the newspaper, with comments posted to the newspaper's website, with call-ins and appearances on talk-radio shows (always eager to fill air time), with protests at the newspaper's offices, with campaigns refuting columnists sexist views and demands for their removal if necessary, with your own blog and email campaigns.

"Stop looking for a magic bullet. there's no easy way, but there is a way. Learn how others accomplish their goals. The NRA is a very male organization and they've been able to enact and control major legislation despite millions of compelling reasons for their initiatives to be defeated. Learn how those bastards did it in the early days.

"What JW and many MRAs are really saying is Robin! We have already done a half-assed job of those things for years and it's not working! Why tell us the obvious when it's obvious we're too lazy to do it?"