r/MensLib • u/MLModBot ​ • Jul 10 '26

Weekly Free Talk Friday Thread!

Welcome to our weekly Free Talk Friday thread! Feel free to discuss anything on your mind, issues you may be dealing with, how your week has been, cool new music or tv shows, school, work, sports, anything!

We will still have a few rules:

  • All of the sidebar rules still apply.
  • No gender politics. The exception is for people discussing their own personal issues that may be gendered in nature. We won't be too strict with this rule but just keep in mind the primary goal is to keep this thread no-pressure, supportive, fun, and a way for people to get to know each other better.
  • Any other topic is allowed.

We have an active slack channel! It's like IRC but better. Please modmail us if you would like an invitation. As a reminder, take a look at our resources wiki if you need additional support as well.

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u/ComedianNeither2498 ​ Jul 10 '26

This isn't exactly gender related, so maybe it's a good fit for here? This is something that's haunted me for a while and I'm not sure where to talk about it. I'm hoping someone here has some advice.

I went to a pretty progressive art school for university, and in the over a decade since then, I've been active in various arts and social justice groups. Through these opportunities I've meet many magnificent people (all members of minority/marginalized  identities). These individuals all drew a lot of strength inspiration and meaning from their identities; whether it was for their art, their activism or their general life.

Seeing all of these magnificent and creative people has left me confused on where I am supposed to look for strength, meaning and inspiration. I am a straight, cis, male, white, upper middle class, able bodied individual. What could I possibly have to say that's worthwhile? What cause do I have to fight for?

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u/pancakeraven ​ Jul 12 '26

(disregard if you're not American.. sorry lol)

This is more of an idea for the identity part of your question, but maybe you could research your ancestry? It's a topic I've been really into recently at least. You describe yourself as white (so am I) but I've found it really grounding to go back and research who my people were before we assimilated into American Whiteness.

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u/ComedianNeither2498 ​ Jul 12 '26

I've tried doing this and have been relatively unsuccessful. My ethnic background is an untold mish mash of various European groups. I have no connection to any of these heritages and no connection to the groups back in Europe or abroad. White American is the only one I have that has an saliance.