Part 2/7:
The narrator’s journey began in their mid-20s, spurred by a desire for confidence. They discovered a community centered around self-improvement, which preached that confidence was the key to attracting women, success, and happiness. This community mirrored the freedoms of modern life while delivering a straightforward message: "Just be confident."
Yet, as they delved deeper, a darker undertone emerged within the self-help paradigm. The advice morphed from simple self-acceptance to the need for hyper-masculinity, dominance, and financial prowess. The self-help movement began to delineate specific archetypes of "attractive" behavior, often leading individuals to view women as objects to be conquered rather than partners to connect with.