skaian-heretic:

A huge contributing factor to Bro Strider becoming an abusive douchenozzle is L’il Cal–obviously growing up with a demon that is part sexist fuckwit with a hateboner for you whispering in your ear is def not conducive to being your best self–but I also think Bro’s fucked-upedness has to do with when and where his meteor dropped him. i.e. america in the eighties.  

Because Dirk may also be a hyper-aggressive, competence-obsessed control freak, but growing up 400 years in the future means he dodged a bullet. Like, nowhere in Dirk’s mind would liking dick cast any doubt on his masculinity or martial prowess. And, as anybody who grew up queer in the late 20th century knows, for Bro it almost certainly would have.

So what does Bro do? He becomes ironic. He applies his extensive intellect and talents toward never meaning anything he says or does. He becomes a puppet-loving, anime-shades wearing, rapping pornstar. He never shows emotion or weakness. He represses bits of himself that don’t jive with his image, and instead channels it into making phallic plushies and aggressively controlling his little brother. He shoves all his no-homo toxic masculinity bullshit on to Dave. He, like so many of us, is a product of his environment.

Not to say this excuses any of Bro’s behavior–he’s still a shitbag, and Dirk’s Worst Self. But important as it is not to deny that he was abusive, I think it also does his character a disservice to just chalk it up to him being inherently evil. I think what Dave told Dirk about Bro is spot on–he was a smart, deeply fucked up dude who should not have been allowed anywhere near a child.