u/CommercialOil8763

For the longest time, I was dealing with depression and loneliness, and the most common advice I kept hearing was “go to therapy.” Eventually I did, but honestly, it didn’t really help me in the way people made it sound like it would. Therapy isn’t some miracle solution that instantly fixes 100% of your problems. In my experience, it actually left me feeling worse at times because I went through multiple therapists and often felt like I was getting empty platitudes that didn’t really address what I saw as the root of my issues, while also draining my money.

What ended up helping me more was getting a checkup and finding out I had vitamin deficiencies and focusing on things like my diet, exercising regularly and practicing meditation. Those didn’t "solve" everything, but they did make me feel more stable and calm overall. That said, I still won't blanketly recommend everybody who struggles with mental health issues try what I did because everybody is DIFFERENT. My point is just that different things work for different people and others should try to understand that instead of stamping the word "therapy" when hearing somebody is going through mental health issues.

As a young man, I used to really enjoy Reddit when I was younger and in some ways I still do. There are so many niche communities and interesting discussions that you just don’t find anywhere else online. I like being able to learn random things, read different perspectives, and just feel like I’m part of something, even if it’s only online.

But lately it’s been getting harder to ignore something that’s been bothering me for a while. No matter what subreddit I’m in, I keep running into comments that are openly anti-male. Sometimes it’s jokes, sometimes it’s more serious, but either way it adds up. After a while it just makes me feel kind of disheartened and unwelcome.

I don’t have a big social circle in real life, so I end up spending more time online than I probably should. Because of that, stuff like this hits me harder than I’d like to admit. It starts to feel like even the spaces I go to relax or distract myself aren’t really for me.

I know the obvious answer is probably to spend less time on Reddit or just ignore it, but it’s not that simple. There really isn’t another platform quite like this one, and I still enjoy a lot of what’s here. I just wish it didn’t feel so negative sometimes.

Has anyone else felt like this? How do you deal with it without just completely leaving?

As a man, I am attracted to specific people and I fully realize that what I'm looking for is so uncommon and fine with being single until I find my person. I'm very active on online dating apps, numerous bars and clubs in my city, and have had some women approach me though I rarely approach anymore. The problem is when people don't take my rejection well. I had one woman question my sexuality, threaten to stalk me, etc. Why do people do this?? I've been rejected plenty of times but never felt the need to make anyone else feel bad. Wtf?

As a man, I am attracted to specific people and I fully realize that what I'm looking for is so uncommon and fine with being single until I find my person. I'm very active on online dating apps, numerous bars and clubs in my city, and have had some women approach me though I rarely approach anymore. The problem is when people don't take my rejection well. I had one woman call me gay, threaten to stalk me, etc. Why do people do this?? I've been rejected plenty of times but never felt the need to make anyone else feel bad. Wtf?

I’ve had a couple friends tell me lately that I’m going to end up "lonely" and "miserable" if I don’t start dating, and I genuinely don’t understand where they’re coming from. I’ve tried explaining that I actually love being single. I enjoy my own company, I invest time into my hobbies, my work, and improving myself, and I feel pretty fulfilled as is. When I look at what dating involves, I just don’t see the appeal. I don’t want to give up my time, freedom, or money to fit someone else into my life when I’m already happy with how things are.

I keep myself busy, I set goals for myself, and I make myself happier every day without needing a partner to do that for me. I’m not against relationships for other people, I just don’t feel the need for one in my own life right now. AIO for feeling this way?

This happened over 15 years ago but I still remember it clearly. When I was in grade 8 the popular girl in our class was generally really mean to people who weren't in her circle, preying on the weak all the time and making life miserable for people. My best friend worked up the courage to talk to her one day and she shot him down in front of the whole class calling him a loser saying he'd never be good enough to get a girl like her. Destroyed the poor kid for a while. So on an overnight class trip a few months later I put a bunch of Nair in her leave in conditioner. This girl LOVED her hair. It was long, dyed platinum blonde and she used to comb it and play with it all the time at school. She had a major freak out followed by a long stint of wearing hats. They weren't part of the dress code but the school made an exception after an unsuccessful investigation. I'd do it again.

I was at a party on Saturday grabbing some food when a girl walked up beside me, smiled, and complimented my cologne. I smiled back and said thanks, then complimented her beautiful, pink dress because I thought we were having a friendly/flirty moment. But her response completely caught me off guard. She kinda went cold and said, "Ok but I just wanted to compliment your cologne. That’s it."

What the hell? I've never had that happen before. Usually, when girls reject me they say "Thanks, but I'm not interested" or smile and walk away. After that I didn’t see her again the rest of the party. Meanwhile I talked to other girls later that night and even got a couple numbers, so now I’m just confused about what happened there lol. Did I accidentally come across too strong or was that just an unusually defensive response? Can anybody explain? 😅

I live in Pennsylvania and on Monday it was 55 degrees and cloudy but felt like 42 with 12 mph winds and 51% humidity after a 70 degree day on Sunday but today it's 53 degrees now, partly cloudy but feels like 70 degrees with 10 mph winds and 53% humidity. after a 72 degree weather yesterday. Why?? Do the clouds have something to do with cold? That would be my best guess but idk lol.

I (21M) am studying for finals right now and my sister (25F) has this absolutely disgusting habit of chewing loudly. She smacks her lips, crunches super hard, and sometimes literally chews with her mouth open. It drives me insane.

Today I was studying in my room, which is near the kitchen and she came in eating peanuts. I asked her nicely if she could please chew quieter because I was trying to focus. She immediately got defensive and was like "Should I not eat in my own home? Are you the only one who needs quiet time?" Then she started laughing while chewing which honestly made me feel like she was doing it on purpose at that point.

I was already stressed and sleep deprived from finals so I almost snapped and said something really hurtful to her and can't close the door because it doesn't help. My parents said I can't lock the door so sometimes she'll just barge right in. Instead I just packed my laptop and books, left the house, and went to the library. She kept trying to call me after I left but I put my phone on Do Not Disturb and ignored all her calls because I genuinely didn’t want to argue.

I don’t really know what to do here but this has been eating at me for a while.

My dad works from home and his job requires a lot of phone and video calls. I can hear a lot of his meetings from my room, and more than once I’ve heard his boss absolutely tear into him. She’s younger than him and the way she speaks to him is honestly humiliating. She yells, talks down to him, and blames him for things in a tone that sounds more like scolding a child than talking to a grown man who’s trying his best.

What breaks my heart is how he responds. He stays calm, polite, and just takes it. He never raises his voice, never argues back. He just says things like okay and I understand while she keeps going. It makes me feel sick listening to it.

He’s close to retirement age and he already has trouble walking. I’ve seen him lose sleep over this job, working late and waking up early. He looks tired all the time. But he never says a word to me about how work is going. If I ask, he just says it’s fine and changes the topic.I feel helpless hearing this happen in real time and not being able to do anything about it. Part of me wants to walk into the room and tell her off through the computer, but obviously I can’t do that.

I’m seriously thinking about sitting him down and telling him he doesn’t need to do this anymore. I have my own job and can support myself. He doesn’t need to keep working himself into the ground like this, especially not for someone who treats him like that. I just want him to rest and have some peace. But I don’t know if that’s overstepping. I don’t want to make him feel like he’s weak or incapable. I just don’t want to keep listening to my dad get verbally abused in his own home.

What do I do here?

I don’t really know what to do here but this has been eating at me for a while.

My dad works from home and his job requires a lot of phone and video calls. I can hear a lot of his meetings from my room, and more than once I’ve heard his boss absolutely tear into him. She’s younger than him and the way she speaks to him is honestly humiliating. She yells, talks down to him, and blames him for things in a tone that sounds more like scolding a child than talking to a grown man who’s trying his best.

What breaks my heart is how he responds. He stays calm, polite, and just takes it. He never raises his voice, never argues back. He just says things like okay and I understand while she keeps going. It makes me feel sick listening to it.

He’s close to retirement age and he already has trouble walking. I’ve seen him lose sleep over this job, working late and waking up early. He looks tired all the time. But he never says a word to me about how work is going. If I ask, he just says it’s fine and changes the topic.I feel helpless hearing this happen in real time and not being able to do anything about it. Part of me wants to walk into the room and tell her off through the computer, but obviously I can’t do that.

I’m seriously thinking about sitting him down and telling him he doesn’t need to do this anymore. I have my own job and can support myself. He doesn’t need to keep working himself into the ground like this, especially not for someone who treats him like that. I just want him to rest and have some peace. But I don’t know if that’s overstepping. I don’t want to make him feel like he’s weak or incapable. I just don’t want to keep listening to my dad get verbally abused in his own home.

What do I do here?

I live in South Florida and I honestly love the brutal summer weather that everyone else complains about nonstop. The heat, the humidity, the afternoon storms, all of it. People act like stepping outside for 5 minutes is some kind of survival challenge but I seriously enjoy it. There’s something relaxing about warm air and bright sun all day instead of gloomy cold weather where everything feels dead for half the year.

I also love swimming, so summer here is perfect for me. Jumping into the pool when it’s hot outside feels amazing and it gives me an excuse to be outside more. I don’t even mind sweating during the day because showering exists. I feel like some people treat sweating like it’s the end of the world when it’s literally normal human body stuff. Same with bugs. Yeah they exist, but unless your house is infested or you’re rolling around in a swamp, it’s not that serious.

The funniest part is people blasting AC 24/7 like they’re preserving meat in a freezer. I barely even use mine unless it goes above 95, which honestly isn’t even that common where I am. I’d rather open a window, throw on shorts, and enjoy the warmth.

I live in South Florida and I honestly love the brutal summer weather that everyone else complains about nonstop. The heat, the humidity, the afternoon storms, all of it. People act like stepping outside for 5 minutes is some kind of survival challenge but I seriously enjoy it. There’s something relaxing about warm air and bright sun all day instead of gloomy cold weather where everything feels dead for half the year.

I also love swimming, so summer here is perfect for me. Jumping into the pool when it’s hot outside feels amazing and it gives me an excuse to be outside more. I don’t even mind sweating during the day because showering exists. I feel like some people treat sweating like it’s the end of the world when it’s literally normal human body stuff. Same with bugs. Yeah they exist, but unless your house is infested or you’re rolling around in a swamp, it’s not that serious.

The funniest part is people blasting AC 24/7 like they’re preserving meat in a freezer. I barely even use mine unless it goes above 95, which honestly isn’t even that common where I am. I’d rather open a window, throw on shorts, and enjoy the warmth.

I'm asking this because I genuinely do not understand this weird, unempathetic reaction some men get online for simply talking about dating struggles. Why do some women, especially on Reddit, instantly assume that a man venting about loneliness, rejection, lack of dating success, or frustration with modern dating must believe he is owed sex or a relationship?

Those are not the same thing at all. A man saying he feels hurt, unwanted, discouraged, invisible, or emotionally exhausted from constant rejection is not automatically saying women are obligated to date him. Yet online, those two things constantly get treated as identical.

It feels like the moment a guy expresses sadness or frustration about dating, people immediately rush to frame him as entitled, misogynistic, manipulative, or even dangerous. The response instantly becomes "women don’t owe you anything" even when the guy never claimed they did in the first place.

Most people already understand that attraction cannot be forced and relationships are voluntary. That does not suddenly erase the emotional pain that comes with loneliness or repeated rejection. Human beings naturally want love, intimacy, companionship, and affection. Wanting those things is normal. Feeling hurt when you cannot find them is also normal.

Not every lonely man hates women. Not every guy venting about dating believes women should be forced to date him. Sometimes people are simply struggling emotionally and want to talk about it without immediately being treated like a bad person. Why is there such a strong tendency online to assume the worst possible interpretation whenever men talk negatively about their dating experiences?

Today I was walking outside and felt amazing. It's a sunny, spring day with temperature over 80 degrees. I spoke to a woman I met on my walk. This time I didn't try to flirt with her, just spoke. It was interesting to find out we went to the same college. Men, does anybody else like to walk on a windy, spring day?

Today I was walking outside and felt amazing. It's a sunny, spring day with temperature over 80 degrees. I spoke to a woman I met on my walk. This time I didn't try to flirt with her, just spoke. It was interesting to find out we went to the same college. Men, does anybody else like to walk on a windy, spring day?

I know that its not right, and I don't get angry or anything, I just get really depressed. I don't want to be a "man". I'm cis, but I don't even want to be associated with my own gender. I have a lot of self doubt issues that likely factor into this. Is there a way to stop feeling like this/think about it differently?

I’m a foreigner staying in Chicago for uni and I wanted to try casual dating during my stay. Is bantering as in small talk a common way of flirting in the US?

A few days ago, I had a couple neighbors come over because I just moved into a new place and they wanted to say hello. Where I’m from, it’s completely normal and expected that you take your shoes off before entering someone’s home. It’s just basic respect and cleanliness.

So when they stepped inside, I politely asked them to take their shoes off. One neighbor did it without any issue. The other neighbor, an older woman, kind of stiffened and said she doesn’t take her shoes off in other people’s homes. I explained that it’s important to me and part of my culture, and that I just had the floors cleaned. She still refused.

I told her she could either take them off, stay by the entrance, or head back home. She chose to leave. Now I’m wondering if I handled it badly or came off as rude to new neighbors. I wasn’t trying to be difficult, but it’s my home and I don’t think it’s a huge ask.

Was I weird for standing my ground on this?