So he’ll be respected.

He’ll have earned it.

I get what you’re saying but you still have to do the work. There is no other way. And still, there will be some people who will never respect you. But that’s their problem. You’re not required to let them into your life.

You’re right about the irony of buffoonery flipping in sit coms. Men are being cast the way women were cast in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Because that’s what makes money. Sucks, doesn’t it? Really does a number on your psyche, doesn’t it?

But TV is not real life. Never was. And you forgot, in your criticism to mention how people tend to adopt the behavior they see on TV if they don’t get out more or don’t get variety.

Don’t think so? Ask any mom or teacher who had a kid into Power Rangers or Ninja Turtles. They went around kicking every thing and every one. Hulk smash. The “I’m watching you" fingers pointing to your own eyes then someone else’s. Mean girls. The cat claw thing.

Men HAVE been behaviorally acting like what they see on TV and in movies. But not all men. So have women. What do you think happens when a woman watches nothing but Romcoms? She spend all her time trying to chase and earn love. If she just gives the baffoon enough chances, he’ll eventually come around and be worthy. How do you think that’s played out? The fallout is exactly as expected for real life.

So you’re right about cultural programming to an extent. I mean, we’re primates so we kinda can’t help ourselves. But the answer is self awareness about where your sources of input are coming from. And getting the absolute widest variety of passive input. Reduce your input from certain sources.

Watch something besides sitcoms. Read something besides Lee Childs. Play something besides 1st person shooters or competitive sports.

Put some actual thought into the sort of man you want to be and seek those sources rather than letting some marketing wank somewhere decide for you. They’re trying to make money, not build a better, sounder man, or society.

Learn to be well rounded.

And guess what, when that comedic gimmick stops making money, they’ll move on. Or back to what has worked before. Whatever.

Your tactic is a bit of a pressure valve and it can certainly inform. But again, from experience, in the end it will mostly nurse resentments, yours and others, and you’ll eventually run afoul of the “free speech" sentinels, usually bought and paid for by the same monied interests that stand to gain off the sitcom tropes in the first place.

Welcome to oligarchical capitalism. Where if you’re not producing one way, you will be another way. The sky is truly the limit.

And don’t forget, in real life women are STILL having to prove their worth daily and repetitively against cultural programming from those decades. Though hopefully, my generation and the Millennial generation will be the last. Gen Z seems better mentally and emotionally equipped for media influences on the whole, at least so far. Not that they don’t have their share of social media zombies too.