To ask your thoughts on Andrew Tate?

[bagthoughts]

I went out for dinner recently and all of my nephews aged between 13-26 had a lots of respect for him.

While I agree with a lot of what Andrew Tate says he then has to spoil things with his horrific views on certain topics and I'd go as far as to say some of his points make him dangerous to young men (it concerned me how my nephews really respect him)

What are your thoughts on Andrew Tate?? But also, why do so many respect him in this way when he is so dangerous? Or is it that most people clearly secretly feel this way too?!

Why does your phone keep autocorrecting "posters" to "players" OP? But of a giveaway?

I agree that a lot of it is grooming. Do we blame parenting and how children are brought up when young women are groomed? Do we ask what has gone wrong in that family for a child to be groomed? I know I wouldn’t- I would blame the perpetrators not the family.

@JusteanBiscuits why is this only about young white men? Andrew Tate is actually mixed race and also very popular amongst men of colour

What are you talking about?

OP, I'm a teacher local to him, as is Tommy Robinson, lucky us. I have conversed with lots of teens about him. They think he's funny in the same way as they find Johnson 'funny' or middle aged men admire Clarkson. They do all think he is a sad loser though and say his attitudes are attention seeking. They don't seem to share his views.

Part of his popularity comes from gym culture and anti vaxx conspiracy theories. Boys do tend to lap that crap up.

Have discussions with them from an early age. Don't fear about "adult topics" you can always frame them in a simple child friendly way.

So people like Andrew Tate to my 8 year old I will say things like "he's not very nice to women" "he thinks women belong to men a bit like your toys belong to you, that's not right is it? Nobody owns a person?"

Same for things like racism, Homosexuality and so on. These topics can be discussed in a very childlike way. For me I frame the discussion at the moment about "treating people as we would like to be treated" that it makes no difference "who we love, what colour our skin, or what religion we follow, everyone has a right to be respected and to be treated with kindness".

Also "family units" it became a topic when I became widowed but I've been able to expand on it, so some children have one mummy and no daddy, some children have a mummy and a daddy, some children have 2 daddies and some 2 mummies, but as long as everyone is happy, respected and lived it's a ok"

I love the idea of being Brian washed. Made ne giggle.

What was it other than their background that rendered them vulnerable to grooming though.

The kids that make up the cohort you're referring to very rarely come from stable homes where their needs are genuinely being met.

Circumstances make a huge difference, but we're talking about a wider demographic here

I think it’s just a phase/trend. Most kids don’t really listen to what he says - they just think he’s famous.
After an assembly at school about him (meant to discourage him!) my boys seemed to talk about him even more.
I shut it down but I’m sure he will fade. We just keep reinforcing his views are vial.

I agree that some children are more vulnerable- but that isn’t solely based on parenting. It can be due to the wider
environment in terms of where they live, deprivation, poverty of aspiration. It could be due to a learning need, an additional need or a mental health condition. It could simply be due to a young teenager struggling with their body image and confidence- both of which are societal issues. There are many, many factors that cause vulnerability and parents not meeting their children’s needs is a far too simplistic way of approaching this.

A lot of young men are confused and have been conditioned that masculinity is toxic and many have grown up without fathers. He fills a void.

He has some horrific views though.

Funny you mention actually as most people I know that 'respect' him dont have fathers in the home so maybe you're right with this observation, his popularity could be filling a void for a masculine role model in certain peoples lives, I agree with this

He’s an utter scumbag and his views are dangerous.

@Grapewrath completely agree on teary to what many of the 'perfect parents' here seem to think

He's a very naughty boy 🤣

But did you discuss it with your nephew's? Did you point out why his views are bad?

Do I think my kids will grow up perfect? Very doubtful! But having conversations like this are vital if you want to prevent a whole generation of misogynists and incels.

There is always a spelling mistake when someone is correcting spelling or grammar.

Ne

Teenage boys who grow up in fatherless homes, have predominantly female teachers in school lessons which bore them and have raging hormones and testosterone coursing through them. They'll always need an outlet. They used to go out and play sports in the fields afterschool or join the scouts. Now they go home and watch tiktok videos and Tate has cornered the market and got into their heads.

They grow up without male role models.

Decent male role models- those sexiest, misogynistic “jokes” that get called “banter”, can’t be common place. Have partners that do their fair share domestically and financially. Talk about porn and safe sex and treating women well when age appropriate.

Whoops!

Still like to be Brian washed!

That's a huge generalisation. Plenty of these boys will play football, and have a male parent at home.

Yes it was just painting a picture. As I said the younger generation have grown up being told that masculinity is toxic, someone like Tate with his bombast gives them an outlet.

And it really is better to have peripheral but decent sane uncles and the odd mal3 teacher than to stay under the roof of a toxic lazy misogynist "father" which is the experience of many boys

I think it's because alot of social media and schooling makes boys feel like masculinity is a bad thing.
Children are encouraged to put themselves into different boxes and identities and alot of boys don't fit into those boxes.

I think you're being far to kind here 😉