Social media was not something I grew up with. I remember being teased for not knowing what bebo was. I also remember people being cruel and sexually aggressive towards girls. If a boy stepped out of line and showed humanity he was a "white knight".

The implication here was that the boy in question was not only transgressing his masculinity by showing empathy, but that his empathy was insincere as heterosexual men are designed to do one thing and one thing only - harass women for sex.

It seems to be continuing lately with this whole simp bashing culture. As far as I understand it, this term is used as a descriptor for "nice guys" who pester women with creepy messages and fight people in their comments section.

And of course it has devolved into a descriptor for any man that dares to show empathy to a woman online. I guess the point of this thread is to wonder why not being a complete arsehole has to feel like this big political statement we make.

I mean is masculinity really so fragile that you can prove it by calling out other men for not being cruel to women? For refusing to slut shame?