1 They Don't Have a Real Position (and They Don't Care)

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So you may not realize this, but it turns out that when I accuse the men's rights movement of being a hate group, I'm actually being kinda controversial. Which is why I asked Michael Kimmel, a professor of sociology and author of Angry White Men, what he thought.

"I know that Southern Poverty Law Center labeled MRAs hate groups," he says, "I don't know that I would. I see the men's rights world as many enraged individuals, coalescing loosely in the 'manosphere' on the Web, with little or no organizational structure, coherent policy initiatives, or plans ... But that's only because my definition of 'hate groups' requires concerted action, and the viciousness of many of their cyberattacks against feminist women make me think that those women who have been targeted might have a different story to tell."

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Again, you can be sure this guy knows what he's talking about because he has a Ph.D., a sensible Japanese car and probably, like, drinks almond milk (I don't know how adults live). And that "concerted action" requirement is a good point: Other hate groups hold protests and have rallies, while the men's rights movement seems to limit itself to Internet rants and blatantly made-up stories, right?

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It's difficult to find this intimidating.

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Yes ... for now. But that may change: The "incel" community (which Elliot Rodgers belonged to) still exists mainly online, but they're not exactly shy about using violent language and making plans. They're openly arguing for the destruction of modern society and even talk about "going Elliot." As in, killing people.

I'm not saying that every MRA is on the verge of killing people or even a bad person, because I'm kind of a doofy idealist and I think "bad people" are way more rare than that. But I do think anger is a dangerous emotion. And I know that if you spend all day on the internet trying to make that anger feel justified and righteous, something important inside you will start to rot away.

JF Sargent is a columnist and editor at Cracked. You can find him on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook.