Is The Cure To Male Loneliness Really 'Thugging That S*** Out?'

Judging by the memes, men are in crisis: they're thinking about the Roman Empire every day, identifying way too much with Ken from Barbie and, apparently, "thugging that s*** out." to cure their loneliness. But why? And what can it all mean?

Where Did 'Is The Cure To Male Loneliness Thugging That S*** Out' Come From?

The original meme that "thugging that s*** out" spawned from was "Is The Cure For Male Loneliness Out On The Pickle Ball Court?" which is a series of parodies of the title and cover illustration of a New York Times piece about men turning to the game of pickleball to find community.

The article was by Michelle Cottle and the art by Benjamin Marra. The combination of the funny title, the chance to dunk on a major newspaper, and the strangely poignant picture was ample fodder for memes.

As the meme developed, variants began to emerge. In particular, the "Thugging That S*** Out" variant spread widely. As is often the case, the sub-variant of the meme started to take on a life of its own. On August 25th, 2023, the first version of the variant was posted to Instagram, featuring acclaimed actor Michael Cera (below left). Other versions soon followed.

Many of the versions paired the text with a man (or other animal) who was not at all a "thug." Kittens were widely used, like in the TikTok below.

What Does 'Thugging It Out' Mean?

Urban Dictionary says that "thugging it out" means "to push through an obstacle. To remain strong during a hard time." In the context of this meme, it may mean that the man in question should double down on who he is and his innate strength. It may also be highly ironic.

What, Actually, Is The Cure To Male Loneliness?

There are many ways to cure male loneliness. One of them may be through doing sports like pickleball, another may be through learning how to thug your way through whatever challenges you face. Yet another might be turning to memes that can express your loneliness and cosmic lostness. Perhaps we are all ultimately alone, and a decision to "thug it out" is a decision to accept that fact and run with it. It could be, in the end, be a healthier response than adopting the Sigma Male Grindset.

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For more information, check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry on this meme.