The Case Against Alpha Male Culture

By David Bozeman

Is anyone else sick of Alpha males?

I don't mean anyone in particular, just the whole Alpha male culture that thrives online, in podcasts, webinars and even in politics. You probably know the whole excruciating mindset. "I'm bigger than you, I'm badder than you. I run 10 miles a day and bench-press 500 lbs. I drink protein shakes by the gallon. You wish you were like me and not such a loser. To be like me you have to..." And blah, blah, blah...

Ok, I'm exaggerating - slightly. The ever flannel-clad Matt Walsh makes fun of men who allow (!) their wives to drive them around. Clay Travis, the frat-boy, low charm version of Rush Limbaugh (and spokesman for a testosterone booster) has frequently mocked men who voted for Kamala Harris. One of my favorite rants comes from the financial advice community, a close relative of the Alpha Male tent show. "I was a millionaire by 25 because I don't just work hard, I work smart." Yeah! Don't you know these guys were obnoxious in high school? Some self-important executive recently revealed certain concerns/habits that would automatically disqualify any potential employee:

• Taking a pillow on a plane
• Asking about work/life balance
• Asking about paternity leave
• Asking if preferred pronouns are recognized

So, taking a pillow on a plane for neck comfort is out, but dropping the f-bomb every other sentence is permitted in his hyper-masculine, anti-PC workplace. Got it. And got it and got it. This plays out every day in our culture, and young men are just soaking it up. Jordan Peterson offers a slightly more refined version of Alpha male chic, but it's really more of the same schoolyard king-of-the-sandbox posturing. 

Not to suggest that this is a monolithic movement. Some Alpha male advocates inspire self-confidence, independence and camaraderie, but, in every movement, the loud and obnoxious tend to drown out the quiet, studious and decent, leading young males to rely on insults and personal attacks in lieu of reason and principle. "Soy boy!" "Beta male!" In other words, "I win."

Young men, if they evolve, one day realize the folly of thinking that success grows exponentially by pointing out someone else's failures. Ultimately, your greatest competition is yourself. Be better than you were yesterday. Instead of knocking your brother down, give him a hand up. Give him a kind word, even if he's different, even if he disagrees. I would say especially if he's different.

I feel kind of sorry for the obnoxious Alpha males. If you have to keep advertising who you are - how secure can you be? Bravado alone does not build and protect civilization. It also takes quiet, steady perseverance. It takes cooperation and acceptance, and, yes, sometimes showing a softer side, something at which 'Beta' males excel. Celebrate it. Take pride. Nothing against the consummate Alpha male president, Teddy Roosevelt, but I prefer the persistent, solemn pace of Calvin Coolidge as a model of leadership. 

The so-called lesser males don't look to Matt Walsh and Jordan Peterson for validation. They look within and to a higher power. It takes all of us to make life prosperous and interesting - not just a uniform row of warrior wannabes. The people in your life who matter will likely just roll their eyes at your bragging, but they will remember a kind deed or an encouraging word. Pay someone a compliment today - an Alpha male probably needs one!

Thank you for reading. Comments welcome.

davidbozeman63@gmail.com

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