I was startled by all the cool male friendship ads, given the alarming stories about an epidemic of male loneliness and a diminution of friendship and romance in the lives of men, especially young men. The human condition is very, very complicated.”Not the solipsistic world that many young men are creating for themselves with pliable, eager-to-please AI companions and fantasy love objects. “When a woman doesn’t have a romantic relationship, she pours that energy into her work and her friends,” he said. “When a man doesn’t have a romantic relationship, he pours that energy into porn and conspiracy theories. “Young men need male role models, they need friends, and ideally a romantic partner,” he said.

Source: The Irish Times November 02, 2025 19:34 UTC