testosterone poisoning

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High-tech libertarians

> There is a tone of adolescent paranoia reminiscent in equal parts of
> "The X-Files" and "Falling Down" to many technolibertarian exchanges; a
> sense, in Ms. Borsook's words, of "testosterone-poisoned guys with chips
> on their shoulders and too much time on their hands."

Testosterone poisoning has nothing to do with it. What it has to do with
is the systematic destruction of culturally meaningful, satisfying male
identity markers and the marketing of surrogates to fill up the residual
emptiness. Pro sports and Harleys are no more "masculine" than are laundry
detergent and cosmetics "feminine".

Being a man in 21st century America means buying the things that a man
buys. I've had the surreal experience of sitting amongst a gathering of
young male relatives and their friends and listening to them chatter about
this or that "fox" in some movie or other and I've received the distinct
impression of hearing *in form* the stereotypical gossipy animation of
"old queers".

Lest anyone detect homophobia in my reference to old queers, I should
state that in many respects I think gay identity offers a more stable
resolution to the problem of the evaporation of masculinity than does a
Harley, a foxy girlfriend and a Sonics seasons ticket. It isn't easy being
a guy these days and it isn't fashionable to dwell on what the problems
are. Testosterone poisoning isn't one of them.


Temps Walker
Sandwichman and Deconsultant