One massive issue is young men being neglected - never being taught how to be confident, functional, self-sufficient men. Worse, modern culture isn't just letting them fend for themselves, but feeding them the wrong advice, on top of the demonization they already see.

The comments from this thread are really illuminating. Several commenters seem aware of the root cause:

Why is anime such a mainstay among these people? Not just trans people, or non-binary people, but so many people who otherwise have anxiety, depression, poor social skills, etc.? I can't say I've ever met anyone in my daily life who has a strong fondness for anime like these people. Or really anyone who has a moderately well-paying job, confidence, and good social skills.

Before transitioning to become a cute anime girl they could oh idk lose weight or build muscle, research how to dress smart, practice good hygiene, and be physically active with hobbies outside the internet and see if that helps their crippling self esteem and depression? It’s never a functional person fantasizing about this shit it’s always someone who doesn’t take care of themselves.

Compare this sound and practical advice versus the advice you might hear from the woke crowd, or even from mainstream culture:

• "Men should get a moderately well-paying job" vs "Don't feel pressured to get a well-paying job, follow your passions over your career, do what you love" "Men focusing on a high-paying career is a sign of toxic masculinity"

• "Men should lose weight and build muscle" vs "Looks don't matter" "Big is beautiful" "Men having to be muscular is a sign of toxic masculinity"

• "Men should be physically active with hobbies outside the internet" vs "Just be yourself" "Men being into sports is a sign of toxic masculinity"

Mainstream advice pushes acceptance when it should be pushing challenge. Hearing things like "men should build muscle, men should go for that high-paying job, men should go out even if they'd rather sit inside all day" makes a lot of people uncomfortable, but it's what young men desperately need to hear.

We can have a society that treats young men with kid gloves, never tells them to do anything specific beyond "just be yourself" and "be nice", and never builds or challenges them because we're afraid of "offending" someone. Then we can watch as they drift aimlessly, never develop any skills or source of confidence, and eventually become depressed socially anxious wrecks. The trans cult offers them a way out - a way to be valued when no one else values them, not even themselves. Who can watch this happen, and then wonder why trans ideology is booming?

This Jordan Peterson video, while a bit graphic, is a good summary of what I'm getting at. But it's the opposite of what young men are hearing nowadays.