I remember being in my late teenage years when everyone suddenly became part of the Emo subculture and I noticed a huge shift what was perceived as attractive. I couldn't help but wonder when I saw extremely skinny manlets everywhere whose faces where all covered up with dark greasy hair, so you couldn't really tell if someone was actually good-looking or plain ugly. Even make-up to cover up major facial flaws was allowed now so you literally had all the options and gimmicks females always had to distract from any personal imperfections. On top of that it was completely acceptable now to behave like a total sperg and not masculine at all. So the aesthetic of the weak and lonely outsider wasn't necessarily a bad thing anymore. And a lot of those guys had really cute girlfriends.
I was quite surprised because I mostly listened to rap music back then and had a completely different image in my mind what was considered attractive or desirable for a young male. Mainstream culture has been perceived as not cool anymore (or more precisely alternative culture became the new mainstream back then) and everyone tried hard to be what I involuntarily had been my whole life: A shy introvert loser who failed to fit in. Of course I felt betrayed somehow because those behavioral traits never got me anywhere especially regarding female and interpersonal relationships. The promoted epitome of what was considered "hot" through the media was literally this guy back then who would be posting here by now if he had to live up to today's standards of beauty.
Did we miss out? Was the Emo era the golden age for Incels to have friends, to fit in and even get laid and to openly display our shortcomings (in looks AND behavior) without getting shamed. I should have swallowed the emopill (even if I hated the music with great passion) and join their ranks.
