Armstrong & Getty On Demand
Episode: "I Think We've Got An Attitude Problem"
Date: March 17, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into shifting attitudes about relationships and marriage, with a focus on how online advice—especially on Reddit—has evolved significantly from 2010 to 2025. The hosts discuss a major study analyzing 1.2 million Reddit comments offering relationship advice, spotlighting the dramatic increase in users recommending divorce or a breakup rather than communication or compromise. They explore what these trends say about today's society, interpersonal dynamics, and the broader implications for the future of relationships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dramatic Shift in Relationship Advice (01:19–05:10)

• Main Study: Armstrong introduces a research analysis of Reddit’s relationship advice from 2010 to 2025.
• Statistical Highlights:
  • In 2010, about 30% of responses to unhappy marriages advised ending the relationship.
  • By 2025, that number had surpassed 50%.
  • Advice to "give space" or "communicate" dropped from roughly 25% to barely double digits.
  • Setting "boundaries" had a slight increase, though often seen as a negative shift from healthy communication.
  • Advice to "compromise" was halved.
• Getty’s Reflection: "The fact that 2010 was 15 years ago." (02:22)
• Michael on Pace of Change: “It’s not the amount of change, it’s the pace that’s making people insane.” (02:08)

Societal Implications of Changing Attitudes (05:11–11:36)

• Interpretation of the Data:
  • Armstrong and the crew suggest fewer people are in relationships, making online advice less experienced and possibly more cynical.
  • Michael: “If you not only haven’t had serious relationships and you just live an online life … How the F would you have any idea what advice to give? … You’re seeing here a bunch of cynical I-live-my-life-online types saying very online things.” (05:18)
• Role Models and Resentment:
  • The scarcity of positive relationship role models leads to negative feedback loops.
  • Armstrong: “If you’ve never been in a relationship and you secretly want to be in one … you want to be in a relationship. That’s the way you’re built.” (06:13)
  • Getty: “This also sounds like it might be coming from people who had one bad relationship and have just said ‘F them all’...” (06:33)
• ‘Divorce as Contagion’:
  • Armstrong: Describes divorce spreading through social groups, especially if a spouse befriends divorced, single people.
  • “Divorce is a contagion. I’ve seen it over and over again at various workplaces and stuff like that. Friend groups. It’s absolutely a contagion … look how great this … fun this life is out here compared to your drudgery.” (08:25)
  • Getty underscores, “Misery loves company.” (09:28)

Language & Psychology Behind the Trends (09:32–12:52)

• Memorable Quotations:
  • Michael: “Drunks want everybody to drink. More stoners want everybody to take another hit … Everybody feels better if more people are doing what they’re doing, they feel justified in themselves if you get divorced, too.” (09:41)
• Online Echo Chambers:
  • Michael: “You’re in a cesspool. You’re asking just stupid, ignorant, evil people for advice.” (11:36)
  • Armstrong: “Well, that’s kind of what Reddit is. It should be their subhead for Reddit. Asking stupid people for their advice.” (11:43)
  • Getty: “Trolls giving advice.” (11:52)
• Darkly Comic Forecasts:
  • “On that trajectory, where’s that gonna be in five, ten more years?” (12:25)
  • Getty jokes, “I’ll be dating robots,” sparking a riff on sex bots and the future of relationships (12:47–13:33).

Closing Reflections

• Armstrong’s Apprehension:
  “I don’t like it. And on that trajectory, where’s that gonna be in five, ten more years?” (12:25)
• Michael’s Satirical Sentiment:
  “If I had a sex bot, I’d have it look just like my wife.” (13:28)
• Comic Summary:
  Michael jokes about greeting cards for sex bots, highlighting the absurdities of future relationship trends (13:33).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Armstrong (on the data):
  “It’s just since 2010 that it’s gone from 30% to over 50% of ‘divorce them’.” (11:18)
• Michael (on advice quality):
  “Turn to ignorant trolls. Misery loves company.” (11:55)
• Getty (on peer resentment):
  “I’ve actually been in the situation where I’ve had a friend get irritated with me when I got married and my life started getting better.” (10:26)
• Armstrong (on group psychology):
  “You secretly want the steady girlfriend like they have. But you’re kind of angry that they do.” (10:55)

Segment Timestamps

• Reddit Relationship Advice Study Introduced: 01:19
• The Numbers Then vs. Now: 02:54–05:10
• Societal Takeaways and Personal Commentary: 05:11–08:25
• ‘Divorce Contagion’ and Social Influence: 08:25–09:32
• The Language of Misery and Group Justification: 09:32–11:36
• Where Are We Headed? Tech, Isolation & Satire: 12:25–13:42

Summary Tone & Takeaways

The discussion is candid, irreverent, and at times darkly comic, but it addresses profound shifts in how society views commitment and intimacy. The hosts are critical of the online echo chamber, lamenting a lack of resilience and the replacement of effort with cynicism. Through relatable anecdotes, wry humor, and cultural observation, they collectively warn that the trend toward avoiding relational work could have dire consequences for future connection and happiness.