tl;dr - the advent of social media has made you, the person, both the supplier and demand force in the "new media economy." This is a huge problem for plugged in guys, and I'll outline why. The crux of the problem is answering the question, "what am I demanding?"


Intro - Economic Theory Foundation

Most laymen are familiar with basics in economic theory. As demand increases for any given item, suppliers will compete to provide that thing in greater quantity at some price that both sides agree works. Simple stuff.

However, this theory assumes that the "forces" of supply and demand are separate, independent, and rational. What does that mean? Broadly speaking, economic theory imagines two "sides" with different motivations that work "against" each other - the result is a nice equilibrium where both parties benefit because at the equilibrium, the consumer pays less than he otherwise would and the producer sells for for higher than he otherwise would.

This mutual benefit is "economic surplus". Each party's SEPARATE self-interest creates the equilibrium.


The New Media Economy

In the new media economy, the roles of supplier and demand force have been blended for the benefit of a new middleman - the owners of platforms.

Ultimately, new media discovered that attention itself is both heavily demanded and readily supplied by the same entity - the "user". A society of "users" on average simultaneously (i) seek and value attention and (ii) willingly supply content for the sake of attention.

Upvotes, Instagram/Facebook likes, retweets, and various shares are effectively currency - but the platform sits outside the supply and demand system entirely. The economic result is that the users derive no surplus on either end.

Practically speaking, "no surplus" means that the content we post (supply) is rewarded with attention (demand), but WE VALUE SUPPLY the same way we create demand (attention).

Converting Theory to Practical

Think of it this way - if you sell bananas but get paid in bananas, the system is all fucked up, because the whole transaction nets to zero for everyone. Now imagine you also really like bananas, so you eat the bananas you got paid in. Replace "bananas" with "content, attention, and new media currency". You ain't getting shit from this deal as a user.


The Demand Problem

And now we reach the core issue - demand for certain types of content can enter this ecosystem and SEPARATELY AND INDEPENDENTLY drive the attention feedback loop.

Anger and outrage are at an all time demand high on all sides of the cultural spectrum. Content producers will whip out a phone to catch people yelling at their kids, abusing their boyfriends, and share stories of victimization. This isn't just "the left" or "SJWs" - this issue is rampant even in TRP!

Ultimately, the "bad" is more valuable than the good or positive in our current climate. This is true of politics, culture, religion, and even sexual strategy. What flies to the top of TwoXChromosomes isn't terribly different from what tops manosphere subreddits - "look how terrible [thing] is."

As the demand for outrage increases (fed by attention from users), supply must catch up. This creates an ugly spiral on all sides - entire subreddits exist on both sides to manufacture supply (real and fake alike) for that precious currency of attention.

So what do we do as men to overcome the cycle for ourselves?


Solve The Attention Feedback Loop

Ultimately, the desire to participate in the attention machine comes from a deficiency of emotional fulfillment.

The Instagram thot posting her ass for likes, the victim porn on female-oriented subreddits, and the pissed off MGTOWs posting entitled dating profiles are doing the same thing - entering the attention loop by meeting a demand.


Conclusions and Advice

TRP is here to teach you the foundations of being a man, and the most important are (i) learn to think for yourself and question the narrative, (ii) whatever you're doing, do it for you.

Let's be clear - this isn't anti social media post number 3837. It is advice to understand why you demand the content you choose to consume.

When you enter the attention seeking cycle, you are inherently performing for others' approval. When you consume outrage content, you are no more than a lowly user. If you were getting adequate healthy attention, would you really make a habit of reading this shit?

If you subscribe to and spend hours a week reading rage porn (Braincels, MGTOW, WAATGM, some parts of TRP), ask yourself as simple question - "why am I creating demand for this?"

Unpleasant answers to questions the cultural zeitgeist doesn't want asked is core Red Pill.

"How Does This Get Me Laid"?

Easy - you sure as hell WON'T get laid sitting around reading about other peoples' (mostly shitty) relationships and getting mad about it. You WILL get laid by becoming a better man and breaking the attention feedback loop.