The speaker discusses two strange phenomena:
1. A "Future Authoring Program" had a greater impact on men, particularly those from non-Western ethnic minority groups and those who had not done well in high school. The speaker suggests that this may be because women are more agreeable and willing to follow a structured pathway, while men, especially those on the disagreeable end of the spectrum, are more likely to rebel against such structures. However, when given the opportunity to set their own goals and take responsibility, these men showed significant improvement.
2. The speaker notes that over 90% of the viewers of their YouTube videos are men, despite the fact that about 80% of psychology students are women. The speaker suggests that this may be because men are hungry for a message of personal responsibility, which is not being provided by modern society. The speaker argues that responsibility is essential for men to find meaning in life and that the lack of emphasis on responsibility is contributing to problems such as nihilism, self-contempt, and the opioid epidemic.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of responsibility for men, citing examples from The Simpsons and Pinocchio, and argues that people need to have a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives, which can be achieved by taking responsibility and working towards a goal.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Future Authoring Program had a differential impact on men, particularly non-Western ethnic minority men.
2. The program had a robust effect on Mohawk College students who were men who hadn't done well in high school and hadn't picked a major with a clear career destination.
3. Women in the program did better than men, possibly because they are more agreeable and willing to follow a structured pathway to attainment.
4. Men, especially those on the disagreeable end of the distribution, are less likely to follow a structured pathway.
5. More than 90% of the people who watch the speaker's videos on YouTube are men.
6. About 80% of psychology students are women, which is not what you would expect given the demographics of the speaker's YouTube audience.
7. The speaker's YouTube audience has been predominantly male even before he started discussing political topics.
8. The speaker has noticed that when he talks to crowds about responsibility, the men's eyes light up, indicating a strong interest in this topic.
9. The speaker believes that responsibility is what gives life meaning, and that people need to take on responsibilities in order to feel fulfilled.
10. The speaker thinks that men are particularly in need of direction and responsibility, and that this is a key factor in their development and well-being.
11. The speaker notes that women have different responsibilities than men, particularly with regards to childcare and family care.
12. The speaker believes that people need to have a sense of purpose and direction in order to feel fulfilled, and that this is particularly important for men.
13. The speaker thinks that the lack of responsibility and purpose is a major factor in the opiate epidemic among dispossessed white middle-aged men in the US.
14. The speaker notes that when he talks to young men about responsibility, they are often thrilled and excited by the idea of taking on responsibilities and doing something useful.