Predatory Prey — The Fate Of Western “Civilization”

For the longest time, I couldn’t understand why men wanted to feel needed. It didn’t make sense to me because there are a lot of things that I dislike but I need them. When it comes to relationships, liking someone, enjoying being around them was infinitely preferable to needing them. That is not to say that both can’t be true, I can both need and want you, but if I had a choice, I would prefer to want to be with you rather than need you.

Back then, I couldn’t quite pinpoint the difference but now, I get it. When you need someone, it gives them leverage. It gives them power in the dynamic. It creates an environment where they can take something away from you and make you suffer. Being needed is a kind of security. It makes them feel like they can punish you with their absence or by denying you help. Being needed is a requirement for insecure, manipulative people — it means they don’t have to stay on your good side. They don’t have to care about your comfort because they can’t get by without you. Being needed is a form of control and control is power.

The ironic part is that people need people. We may not need specific people, but we are social creatures who have only survived through cooperation and community. Unfortunately, that social need has been warped by people who only value power because power is violence and corruption…