2woke2sleep

This isn't about "saving humanity" from rogue robots; it's about protecting lucrative gatekeeping and corporate control. When you look closely, the narrative being pushed sounds an awful lot like astroturfing by folks who benefit from a closed, proprietary AI ecosystem. They fan the flames of fear, talk about "uncontrollable" models (which somehow only applies to the ones you can download and run yourself), and try to funnel everyone into their walled gardens.

They scream "copyright!" when an open-source model trains on publicly available data (which, let's be real, almost ALL models do to some extent), but conveniently forget to apply the same scrutiny to the tech giants who are hoovering up everything behind closed doors. It's almost like they want to sue the little guy out of existence while letting the big players consolidate all the power.

This isn't just about art or code; it's about the democratization of technology. Open-source AI means innovation isn't locked behind paywalls or corporate ethics boards (which, let's be honest, have their own agendas). It means creative power for the masses, not just for those who can afford expensive API calls.

So next time you see someone frothing at the mouth about "AI taking jobs" or "unethical AI," ask yourself:

* Which AI are they really mad about? Is it the one funded by billions, or the one built by a community?

* Who benefits from this fear-mongering?

* Is this truly about safety, or about maintaining a monopoly?

1. The Myth of Endless Options

Sure, social media and dating apps make it look like everyone has endless options. But here’s the reality:

• On dating apps, women swipe right far less often than men. Most men don’t get matches, let alone meaningful connections.

• Women tend to focus on a small percentage of men (the top 10%—think tall, wealthy, attractive), leaving the majority of guys out of the equation.

So no, most men aren’t drowning in options. If anything, they’re struggling to even get noticed.

2. Women’s Standards Are Sky-High

Let’s be real: women are allowed to have standards (and they should!), but sometimes those standards are so high they exclude most men. Think about it:

• Height? Only 14% of men in the U.S. are over 6 feet tall, but that’s often seen as a baseline requirement.

• Income? Many women want a man who’s financially stable—but at 25 or 30, most men are still building their careers.

The result? A lot of great guys get overlooked because they don’t check every box on an unrealistic checklist.

3. Looks Aren’t Everything

Here’s a hard truth: being beautiful or having a “beat face” and curves might grab attention, but it doesn’t automatically make someone a good partner. Men want more than just looks—they value loyalty, emotional support, shared values, and someone who genuinely cares about them as a person.

If you’re only bringing physical appearance to the table while expecting the world from your partner, you might need to rethink what makes a relationship work long-term.

4. Men Aren’t Avoiding Commitment for No Reason

A lot of women say men “don’t want commitment” or “act too young” even as they approach their 30s—but let’s unpack that:

• Men often delay commitment because they’re focused on building their careers and financial stability first. They don’t want to settle down until they feel ready to provide for a family or meet societal expectations of success.

• Unlike women, who face pressure due to biological clocks or societal expectations around age, men know they can date younger women later in life if they choose to wait.

This isn’t immaturity—it’s practicality. Men want to be ready before they commit.

5. The Illusion of Social Media

Social media has created this false sense that everyone has endless options—but it’s mostly smoke and mirrors:

• Men see countless attractive women online but rarely have access to them in real life.

• Women get constant attention from men online but often dismiss most of them as unsuitable partners.

It’s not that either gender has infinite options—it just looks that way because we’re all scrolling through highlight reels instead of living in reality.

6. Accountability Goes Both Ways

Here’s where things get tricky: society often holds men accountable for their flaws while letting women off the hook. For example:

• Men are told to improve themselves—get in shape, earn more money, be emotionally available—but how often do we ask women to reflect on their own shortcomings?

• Many women assume they’re inherently “good partners,” but being kind, supportive, and emotionally mature takes effort—and no one is perfect by default.

If we want healthier relationships, accountability needs to go both ways.

So What Does This All Mean?

The idea that “men are spoilt for choice” is just not true for most guys out there—and claiming otherwise ignores the struggles many men face in the dating world:

• They’re judged harshly for not meeting inflated standards.

• They’re expected to bring everything to the table while being told their needs (like loyalty or emotional support) don’t matter as much.

• They’re navigating a world where social media creates false expectations on both sides.

Masculinity Isn’t the Enemy

True masculinity isn’t about oppression or control. It’s about:

• Leadership: Taking responsibility for your family and community.

• Protection: Being a shield for those you love—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

• Stability: Providing strength and consistency in a world that often feels chaotic.

When did these values become something to hate?

The Real Problem is Division

Let’s be real: Black men and women are not each other’s enemies. The system we live in wants us divided because unity between us is a threat to white supremacy.

• The breakdown of the Black family wasn’t an accident—it was engineered through systemic racism, mass incarceration, and economic sabotage.

• The constant portrayal of Black men as violent, irresponsible, or unemotional? That’s propaganda designed to weaken us as a collective.

And now? We’re arguing over whether masculinity itself is harmful when the truth is: the lack of positive masculinity is what’s hurting us most.

What Masculinity Really Looks Like

It’s time to reclaim what masculinity means—because it’s not what society tells you it is. Real masculinity looks like:

• Raising your kids with love and discipline.

• Standing up for your community when no one else will.

• Treating your partner with respect while leading with strength and compassion.

• Being emotionally intelligent and in control—not suppressing emotions but mastering them.

This isn’t “toxic.” This is what builds families, stabilizes communities, and creates legacies.

Stop Letting Them Divide Us

Black men are not oppressing Black women—and we never have been on any systemic level. Both Black men and women have been oppressed by the same system designed to keep us at odds with each other.

The truth? We need each other more than ever. Masculinity isn’t something to be feared or torn down—it’s something to be celebrated when it’s rooted in love, respect, and accountability.

A Call to Action

To my brothers: Be the example of what real masculinity looks like. Lead with integrity, protect with strength, and build with purpose. Don’t let anyone tell you that being a man is inherently harmful—it’s not.

To my sisters: Understand that masculinity isn’t your enemy—toxic systems are. When we work together instead of tearing each other down, we’re unstoppable.

1. The Transactional View of People

This statement reeks of a transactional mindset—where relationships are no longer about connection, shared values, or mutual respect but instead about what someone can *do* for you or how they make you look. It’s like saying, “If you’re not pulling your weight financially, you’re not even a real person to me.” Excuse me? Since when did being “real” require a paycheck that matches yours?

This isn’t just cold—it’s dehumanizing. Comparing someone to an AI that exists solely for optics? That’s not just dismissive; it’s outright cruel. People aren’t tools. They’re not props in the grand theater of your life. They’re complex, multifaceted beings with emotions, dreams, and struggles. Reducing them to their utility or aesthetic value is not just shallow—it’s toxic.

2. The Hypocrisy of "Optics”

Let’s talk about the word “optics” here because it says a lot about what’s going on. If someone is keeping people around purely for appearances, then who’s really the one treating others as objects? The irony here is glaring: the very act of judging someone as less-than-human based on their finances turns the person making the judgment into the one who’s objectifying others.

And let’s be real—this obsession with “optics” is exhausting. Life isn’t a PR campaign. Relationships shouldn’t be curated for Instagram or some imaginary audience in your head. If you’re surrounding yourself with people based on how they make you look rather than how they make you feel, then maybe it’s time to ask yourself who the real AI in this situation is.

3. Financial Responsibility ≠ Human Value

Here’s the thing: financial responsibility is important, yes. It shows maturity and an ability to manage resources. But it is NOT the sole indicator of someone’s worth as a person. Life is messy. People go through hard times. They lose jobs, face medical bills, support family members, or deal with systemic barriers that make financial stability harder to achieve.

Judging someone solely on their financial status ignores all of that context. It assumes that everyone starts from the same place and has the same opportunities—which is simply not true. By this logic, are we saying that billionaires are somehow “more human” than minimum-wage workers? Because if that’s where this train of thought leads us, I want off.

4. The Emotional Toll of This Mindset

Now let’s talk about what this mindset does—not just to the people being judged but also to the person doing the judging.

For the men being dismissed as “not real people,” this kind of attitude can be devastating. Imagine being seen as nothing more than a placeholder or a prop because you don’t meet some arbitrary financial standard. It strips away dignity and reduces people to numbers on a spreadsheet.

But here’s the kicker: this mindset isn’t doing any favors for the woman saying it either. Viewing others through such a cold, utilitarian lens creates emotional distance and isolation. If you can’t see people as fully human unless they meet certain criteria, then how can you ever form genuine connections? How do you build trust or intimacy when your relationships are based on conditions rather than compassion?

5. Where Do We Go From Here?**

Honestly, this kind of thinking needs to stop—for everyone’s sake. We need to unlearn these toxic ideas about worth and start valuing people for who they are rather than what they have (or don’t have). Financial stability is important in certain contexts (like partnerships where shared responsibilities matter), but it should never be used as a litmus test for someone’s humanity.

Instead of asking, *What can this person do for me?* try asking, *What can I learn from them? How do they make me feel? What kind of person are they at their core?* Because at the end of the day, money comes and goes—but kindness, loyalty, and empathy are priceless.

So yeah, I’m calling BS on this whole “I don’t see them as real people” nonsense. If your view of others starts and ends with their wallet size, then maybe it’s time to take a long hard look at yourself instead.

Final Thought:

The Power of Social Proof

Pre-selection is often linked to social proof—a psychological concept where we trust the choices of others. If another woman has chosen this man, he must be worth choosing, right? It's like seeing a popular restaurant and assuming it's great because so many people dine there.

The Allure of the Unattainable

There's also the allure of the forbidden. When something is off-limits, it can become more appealing. It's not just about the man; it's about the challenge and the thrill of possibly winning him over. And let's not forget the element of competition—seeing another woman desire what you can't have can spark a fire of interest.

But Is It Healthy?

While pre-selection might be intriguing, it raises questions about our values and boundaries. Are women drawn to someone because of who he is, or because someone else has already chosen him? Is this attraction based on genuine connection or a desire to "win" someone over?

Your Thoughts?

What do you think about pre-selection? Have you experienced it firsthand? Share your stories and insights!

Additional Note: