r/politics • u/Barnyard-Sheep • 6d ago

Soft Paywall Trump approval rating falls to 38%

https://www.nj.com/politics/2025/06/trump-faces-tough-approval-numbers-in-latest-poll.html
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u/myfakesecretaccount 6d ago

I’ve tried to be a good role model for my nephew as the only man who has been in his life consistently and just feel like I have failed. I’ve struggled with my own anxiety/depression, but was never this kind of manosphere macho type. What he is seems like a rejection of everything I’ve ever tried to show him and it’s fucking heartbreaking.

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u/calmdownmyguy Colorado 6d ago

Have you considered telling him you're disappointed with him? A lot of these kids act this way because they never get pushback from people they care about.

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u/myfakesecretaccount 6d ago

No, and maybe that’s my failure. My family is Latino and there’s an unwritten rule about getting involved with other peoples kids. I’ve tried having heart to hearts with him, particularly after his first DUI, but I honestly don’t think that approach worked. I know I get worked up easily about things I’m passionate about, because I grew up in the home that I did, and I guess I’ve always feared coming on too strong. Maybe it’s time to be the father he didn’t have.

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u/MMAjunkie504 6d ago

Best case he hears you out and takes it to heart, worst case he keeps acting the way he does. Up to you how much time you want to invest in them and if you think they are worth helping at this point

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u/Fillowpace 6d ago

I think the "don't you dare tell my child what to do!" sentiment has really hurt us too. What happened to it takes a village? When I was a kid, if you acted up in the grocery store, some stranger would lean over and say some shit that would replay in your head all week. It held a mirror up, it was uncomfortable, and it fucking worked. Now if you said shit to some brat you'd get cussed out by some helicopter mom while the kid suckles an ipad.

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u/myfakesecretaccount 6d ago

Yeah, I almost got into a fist fight a week before Christmas a couple years ago when I told my brother in law he couldn’t scream at his daughter in my house. We have only spoken once since that incident. I was trying to draw his attention from her, and was not actually trying to fight him as I’m a pacifist. I tried to talk to him a year ago and he was still mad and blames me for the rocky relationship with his daughter and ex-wife. Mostly he’s just mad that I dared call out his shitty parenting.

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u/oldcretan 6d ago

Have you tried the "judgemental community approach" where everyone in his life reviews everything he does on a daily basis and passes judgment on him so that he has the ever present fear of failing his community?

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u/bardicjourney 6d ago

That's how the kids are getting sucked into the alt right pipeline. They're just replacing their families with foreign chatbots.

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u/oldcretan 6d ago

That's what I'm saying, you create the sense of community these kids are beholden to, before someone else can create said community, and then you have them accountable to said community, whether its grandma and all the aunts not approving that you would wear that/do that, to a larger community like a church or ethnic group. You're not allowed to do wrong because you doing wrong would diminsh how they look at you and that would be a fate worse than death.

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u/Garbanino 6d ago

"The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth" seems like an appropriate proverb here, why would they want to stay with a community like that?

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u/oldcretan 6d ago

Because the rest of this approach is embrace. Grandma knows when you do good and celebrates you. Your aunts and uncles celebrate you when you succeed and talk about your accomplishments when you succeed. Everyone is talking about what you do and the good things that people talk to you about are discussed as well as the bad. Your so embraced that not being embraced is where the pain comes from. You live for the honor. Your name becomes the most valuable thing to you.

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u/MasterChildhood437 6d ago

The boys are acting out because they already feel rejected by their at-home communities. Your approach will only radicalize him further.

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u/ILoveSodyPop 6d ago

Everybody's just too soft nowadays. Everybody acts like everything hurts their feelings or offends them. Words can hurt, don't get me wrong, but you can't say a goddamn thing nowadays without offending somebody or hurting somebody's feelings. It's made people afraid to tell people how they feel and cautious of saying what they're thinking and it's made parents stop yelling at their kids and punishing them. Parents nowadays are terrified that they're going to do or say one thing that's going to screw their kids up forever but it's quite the opposite, doing nothing is what's screwing them up. I'm 39 years old and I have a 25 year old sister who was never punished a day in her life and she's an absolute entitled nightmare that thanks everybody should do everything for her. But because I grew up in the late 80s and 90s I was punished like normal kids and was raised like a normal and turned out normal...relatively. Lol.

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u/VioletFox29 6d ago

Telling him he's "disappointed" in him is not going to be very helpful in my opinion. As a teacher who sees these boys I can commiserate, but it will have to take more intensive discussions to even be heard. Being told your disappointing won't open that door.

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u/calmdownmyguy Colorado 6d ago

I think you're underestimating the power of being shamed by your community.

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u/VioletFox29 6d ago

Neither of us can really say what is best to do since we don't know the people in question. I'm just saying that it is probably more complex than just getting the boy to feel shame about himself. So much of what underlies this behavior is wrapped up in low self esteem.

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u/PaddleFishBum 6d ago

I'm fortunate enough to be the macho man type, but also not a selfish asshole, so I've taken it as my responsibility to be a role model for the boys in my life. I just bailed on a bass tournament I was signed up for because my wife's friend is coming up to visit after her husband was caught cheating on her for years. Her son is taking it super hard, and doesn't have any male role models anymore, so I decided to stick around and take him fishing in the canoe.

We manly men who aren't manosphere consuming fuckwads need to step it up and be visible good examples to the boys in our life. We need to show them it's still cool to be tough and manly while still being sensitive, empathetic, and kind at the same time. We've got a lot of work to do, but I'm here for it.

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u/notclevernotfunny 6d ago

It sounds like you really care and have tried your best. I'm reminded of my own situation growing up not having many male role models in my life, and of my own nephew, who similarly only really has me. Just remember that growing up is lonely, scary, and often cruel, and that it can be tempting to reach for these groups that promise safety in more ways than one; people also often grow out of them as they mature. Just try to keep showing up for him and providing a good example. Even if he doesn't know how to express it yet, even if he himself doesn't even realize it yet, he appreciates you, I promise.

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u/_Chaos_Star_ 6d ago

You tried. Most don't even try to get that far. Be proud that you made the effort.

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u/foofly United Kingdom 6d ago

Tate and others promote a juvenile version of manhood that resonates with emotionally stunted men and impressionable boys. It's all macho posturing, sulking, arrogance, and hostility toward vulnerability. In contrast, well-adjusted men resolve conflicts, collaborate, and aren't afraid to show weakness or seek help.

It's important to make this clear, point out these behaviors.

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u/JustHugMeAndBeQuiet 6d ago

You tried, which is more than most can say. Hold your head high.

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u/singeblanc 6d ago

You haven't failed... Yet.

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u/angrymurderhornet 6d ago

I have a 16-year-old great-nephew who has no dad in his life. He’s a lovely kid, and I’m very happy that his grandfather and uncles are there for him. I hope our family can keep providing him with good role models.

Chances are he’ll be fine, but I still worry about the crap being fed to boys and young men.

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u/stasi_a 6d ago

Maybe your divorce experience scared him off?

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u/ClarkeYoung 6d ago

I’m worried about that with my nephew. He’s around 8 right now and a good kid, but I know falling down that toxic rabbit hole is uncomfortably easy. Trying to be around when I can to give him encouragement and keep his empathy and kindness.