This is the way men are socialized to think even today, so it's not a personal failing, necessarily, but unlike you, a lot of these guys have never matured or looked at women as real people, with real problems. Like you said, it's more like a video game for them, where "if they were good enough players" they'd win the female prizes they desire, and if not good enough players, looking for some "cheat codes."

IMO, this is the whole scenario with incels. They are mad they weren't born as highly skilled players, but they have no interest in learning how to become that, and still feel entitled to beautiful women as the prizes that all men are owed. It's super dehumanizing to women, because they are literally just objects of desire, with no inner life of their own, and the people they are most mad at is not the patriarchal dominance hierarchy, but the women - who have falsely withheld from them what all men are owed. 🙄

Do you mind if I ask how you transcended that way of thinking? Did you just learn more about the world or was there something that helped you to "wake up"?