I’ve been thinking about male loneliness and how men are often taught to chase certain things as signs of success, like money, status, and being able to attract conventionally attractive women. I’m curious how much of that actually lines up with what makes men feel happy, loved, understood, desired, or emotionally fulfilled. One thing that made me think about this is hearing strippers talk about how to make money in strip clubs. A lot of them say the most conventionally beautiful women in the club are not always the ones who make the most money. What matters a lot is being able to build rapport, talk to customers, and create a fantasy where they feel wanted, listened to, and special. I found that interesting because strip clubs probably attract some of the more lust-driven men among ordinary men. But even there, what many men seem to respond to is not just looks. It is the feeling of being desired, understood, and emotionally attended to, even if it is only an illusion. So I’m curious: what is something you used to think would make you happy as a man, but later realized was more about social validation than real emotional fulfillment? submitted by /u/Appropriate-Cheek668
Originally posted by u/Appropriate-Cheek668 on r/AskMen