Main content

The Extreme World of ‘Pick-up Artist’ Hate

After Elliot Rodger kills six people, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Trending delves into the misogyny of ‘pick-up artist’ haters. Plus we hear from the group trying to stop rude driving in Russia.

After the murder of six people in California, the spotlight turned to the ‘pick-up artist’ (PUA) community, when it emerged that the shooter had posted anti-woman rants and videos online.

Elliot Rodger was apparently involved in an extreme offshoot that ostensibly warned men against gurus who claim to have secret tactics to woo women.

But the website PUAHate.com became a magnet for frustrated men airing their hatred not just towards pick-up coaches, but towards women as well.

We talk to a journalist who plumbed the depths of misogyny on the site, and to a writer who explained why the hashtag #YesAllWomen started to trend after last week’s horrific events.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Trending also talks to the man behind the Russian group StopXam, which is trying to get Russian drivers to be just a little bit more polite. Their videos showing members risking life and limb by stopping cars in the middle of Moscow traffic have been viewed millions of times, and they have been endorsed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. But does any of that help when drivers, irritated at their tactics, pull out weapons?

Anne-Marie Tomchak is joined in the studio by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Trending’s Mike Wendling and ´óÏó´«Ã½ Russian Service News Editor Famil Ismailov.

Available now

18 minutes

Last on

Sun 1 Jun 2014 22:32GMT

Music and featured items

  • 'Pick-up Artist' Hate

    ´óÏó´«Ã½ Trending investigates the world of the anti-"pick-up artists"

    Duration: 08:12

  • Stopping Bad Traffic with Good Manners in Russia

    How the group StopXam are confronting bad traffic in Russia's cities with good manners.

    Duration: 05:42

  • Micachu & the Shapes

    Curly Teeth

  • OutKast

    Aquemini

  • Iggy Pop

    Passenger

  • Neko Case

    Man

Broadcasts

  • Sat 31 May 2014 10:32GMT
  • Sun 1 Jun 2014 03:32GMT
  • Sun 1 Jun 2014 22:32GMT

Podcast