Why do men idolize tyrants?

[Notherndude84]

Throughout history there have been numerous examples of tyrants rising up and stealing what doesn’t belong to them, creating division, oppressing the vulnerable, and blaming others for their crimes. It amazes me that humanity still falls for this over and over.

If I had to be honest I think men in particular have a primal instinct towards following tyrants out of fear, admiration or personal gain.

I think the best men in any society are the ones who help others, promote unity, forgive mistakes, understands justice, chivalrous, slow to respond in anger, generous with time and resources.

A tyrant is none of the above. He only knows how to make threats, belittle, abuse, murder, rape and manipulate.

[Anonymous]

For better or worse they appear as strong leaders. To quote the movie Braveheart. "Men don't follow titles, they follow courage". The problem with leadership today is leaders do not lead thier troops into battle this is why leader like Julius Caesar and Alexander are revered and remembered. For better or worse they didn't ask anyone under them to do anything they weren't willing to.

Your question reminds me of an exchange between Phil Donahue and Bill O'Reilly during the Iraq War. Phil said the United States was led by a group that liked to prove they're tough. Of course Bill shouted him down (it was his show). But Bill called him anti American etc. And I think to any outside observer it would appear that Bill won the exchange. But Phil was defending an unpopular position that made him look cowardly. Time has shown the opposite. I'm not saying it would be better if Saddam was back in power. Saddam was an a-hole and the world is better off without him. But the cost that achieved that was much too high.

As I read your question you say "the best men in society help others". Well there was no better man than Jesus Christ and look what society at the time did to him.

Humans are violent at our core. If we discovered alien life tomorrow it would probably be the one thing that would unite us because we would have found something new that we could universally fear and hate.

[MisterWack]

Men like having a ‘strong man’ who gives them light in the darkness / makes them feel they have a protector in this world.

Politicians tend to be elected by the voters whose concerns are met through the politicians’ form of policy however not always the case. Other politicians shout, spread fear & hate and will make their grievances the people’s grievances to grasp a hold onto power especially by scapegoating minority groups. In times of hardship, worry, fear, depression, economic ruin people tend to put aside the more extreme / radical parts of the agenda and focus on what sounds good for them specifically. Dictators, tyrants, etc. rise because we fall for their tricks time and time again even when the signs are there.

[dustybiker2]

It's not idolizing. I believe the psychiatric term is "learned helplessness".

They are followers. They require someone to tell them what to do, how to think (when it's okay to feel angry, sad, happy) and the key piece: gives them permission to be obnoxious.

Life is hard when you are kind and follow the rules.

[Shiprex]

You also get taken advantage of and when that's been the case for generations without recognition and you're reminded of all the negative traits within humanity and of society being YOUR fault you're going to take umbrage at that notion. Rolling over and accepting the hateful trends of modern cultural messaging.
No one will come to save a man when he's in trouble. Chivalry benefits only one side.

[dustybiker2]

@Shiprex I mostly agree until the end. There is always the rare savior. I step up whenever I can. Kindness is choice and is risk as there is often no reward.. or appreciation.

[Shiprex]

@dustybiker2
Kindness isn't chivalry though that's a different concept because the reward for kindness is internal, chivalry is about being seen and noticed for doing something by others so is external.

[dustybiker2]

@Shiprex Eh, I don't know if I agree with that. It was expected of knights, generally people in lines of protection. Not for fame or glory it was an honorable job.

[Shiprex]

@dustybiker2
Chivalry was done to promote oneself in the eyes of others and to attract the attention of others. It was a DISPLAY of gallantry to get noticed. It wasn't some dude on a horse helping a maid with the milk cans which would have been kindness. It was a code done by men for women or status, not a behaviour one carried out through benevolence or good will.

[dustybiker2]

@Shiprex Yes, and no. Back then young men looked up to the respect knights received back for those acts. Not the attention those acts received themselves. Bravery, honor, courage. Not vanity.

[Shiprex]

@dustybiker2
The knights DID those things for the adulation of the crowds and the women fawning over the acts NOT because they wanted to them. It was a SHOW and to be seen to be doing something which is rather conceited iyam.

[dustybiker2]

@Shiprex It was a different time back then. 🙂

[Shiprex]

@dustybiker2
Yeah they had to sit on animals to get around and use fire to warm themselves. Most women would be pregnant most of their lives and half the kids wouldn't make it to 5.
Bring back the good old days eh?

[dustybiker2]

@Shiprex No matter the advances humans gain the life problems just shift around.

[Shiprex]

@dustybiker2
Yup, different stokes for different seas.

[FreyaRed]

I wouldn't say just men. It's the same mechanic like people who think only evil can fight other evil. In prosperous political and economic systems have despots and tyrants no chances, they gain just power when society starts to decay, also 80% of time.

[Lliam]

I can't think of a tyrant that I ever idolized. I distrust and resent authority in general.
I loathe royalty and aristocrats, and that applies to most or all politicians and CEOs of large corporations.

I've gotten along great with supervisors, managers and VPs at various jobs. I just treated them like we were both doing our jobs. But I didn't respect those who acted like dictators.

For me, respect is earned. If you respect me, I'll respect you. That goes for cops, teachers, co-workers, government employees, and others in leadership positions.

Try to coerce me and I will resist.

[Syntosi]

I dont think it is a gender thing. I think it is that Tyrants target men as their core support so all their pandering and such goes to buttering up that specific demographics. This can be especially true if they at the same time target women as the enemy and blame them for all the bad things in society which is fairly normal.

[Notherndude84]

I think that men are more likely to be their primary enforcers though. Although there were plenty of examples in Natzi Germany of faithful women who were even executed for the reich.

[Syntosi]

Again, its an example where the Nazis buttered up the men and blamed the women. The public support kind of just follows from that.

[Joshydavid25]

I don't really see any men idolizing Hitler, Stalin, Kim Jong Un, Putin, or Xi Jinping.. Sure you have a few lost guys who become extremist, but there's women who also follow along with extreme leaders and idealogies..

[MemeSupreme]

people want a leader

and sometimes they're charming

[Notherndude84]

A tyrant can also be charming and charismatic. I think that very true, they also need to throw plenty of red meat to their enforcers to do their bidding.

[alice55]

Because they wish to be like them and have as much power

[KostasKouvalis]

Really?
I don't idolize them, but I'm kind of fascinated with them

[alice55]

@KostasKouvalis A lot of guys who like Hitler just wish to have as much power as him cause they were bullied in school in my country. But everything of course depend on the person but it's quite a common things I noticed.

[KostasKouvalis]

That makes sense. I'm more fascinated with their personal lives/early life and why they became the way they did.
I'm fascinated with serial killers and mass murders too, especially female ones, but in general.

[alice55]

@KostasKouvalis I never really been interested in those to be honest, I'm more interested in average everyday people from all over the world and learning their ways to life culture, I'm not intreated in powerful or crazy people. Guess I'm a bit boring in this case XD

[KostasKouvalis]

Really? I thought you wouldn't be.
I'm interested in both. Sometimes I feel I should have majored in sociology

[Pet68]

Did you have a particular tyrant in mind when you wrote this? :)

It's okay to say his name.

[Notherndude84]

I have done many posts on DJT already, I intended to keep this post general and not exclusively political

[Alwayreckles93]

I will tell you something. Millennial men are a disgrace. Generation X men are the best.

[Manuelwe]

Most women fear bullying evil men. Most find them sex and real man is a man who treats you bad. Look at how many women voted for Trump. Beat me slap me hurt me as long as you pay me. The Female Code (?)

[Snakeyes7]

They don't idolize tyrants unless they don't think that the tyrants in question isn't really a tyrant, or the tyrant in question does not actively seek to insult men in particular.

[beefcakebradybatson]

A tyrant exhibits the ultimate alpha male behaviour;the ability to cow weaker people into doing their bidding, which many men seem to envy.

[Notherndude84]

I suppose a Tyrant needs to be an Alpha personality. They often don’t have as much intelligence as you’d think. They might be good orators, expounding about who needs to be eliminated, deported or silenced. If you’re someone who can profit off that it might seem beneficial to support the tyrant

[ProbablyClueless]

Men respect power. Even from a young age, I think most boys aspire to be and feel powerful.

[Anonymous]

Men respect power regardless of how it's gained or how it is exerted upon others

[Notherndude84]

I think power itself can be intoxicating. Some men gain power and they see an opportunity to settle scores and increase their personal wealth.

[Opinion Owner]

Power is indeed intoxicating, I refer to the presentation of power as opposed to the direct possession

[Steve-the-lion]

From what I've seen it's mostly women that idolize tyrants

[Anonymous]

Because of the traditional myth about "Alpha males".

[Dargil]

Which men do that? How do the express it?

[Notherndude84]

I asked the question.

[Dargil]

The question is a vague, unproven allegation. Make your argument.

[Notherndude84]

It’s general on purpose, it’s a casual observation.

[Dargil]

Unworthy of a response beyond mine.

[Notherndude84]

Great that piss off

[Dargil]

Better than being pissed on.

[OddBeMe]

"Strongmen" will always attract the weak

[FunkyMonkee]

Like who?