1. “I’m one of those people who blossomed late in life. I was a virgin until 22. So when things started going well for me in the dating world (or, more accurately, the world of meaningless hook-ups), I was quick to take full advantage. I went from social reject to grade-A asshole in the matter of a few months as soon as I matured physically. I was the king of late-night booty calls and one-night stands—and sickeningly proud of it. But the night of my 27th birthday, I got syphilis. It was a real wakeup call. Syphilis is curable, thank every god out there, but it made me rethink my entire lifestyle. I cleaned up my act fast, and not just sexually. With a little introspection I realized I’d been a raging asshole for too long and that I’d have to do better if I wanted a shot at actually liking myself again.”
— Brandon, 28
2. “Hard to believe, maybe, but my whole perspective changed from watching a twenty minute TED talk. It’s by this guy Jackson Katz, who argues that ‘women’s issues’ like violence against women are actually ‘men’s issues’ too. I started off hate-watching it on this chick’s computer the morning after I banged her. But I quickly realized—to my own annoyance, at first—that the guy was making total sense. And that I was pretty much a jackass for being so conceited and acting as if I was entitled to sex just because I was a man or something. Katz made me see things clearly, suddenly, and now I actually identify as a feminist. Did I just say that out loud?”
— Gary, 36
3. “I’ve always been a decent looking guy, and I have a career in finance, so I earn a decent living. I say that now just to give you some context. The thing is, girls have always kind of thrown themselves at me. But you know how they say ‘good on paper, bad in bed?’ There’s a reason for that. It took one night out with an awesomely honest, confident woman willing to deliver some hard truths for me to realize that I was a prick, and that I was bad at sex too. Talk about a blow to a man’s ego. I was a wreck and a total hermit for a while afterwards, but when I came out of the funk, I was a nicer person and I actually bothered to learn how to treat (and please) a woman.”
— Kurt, 26
