At least on the communities i follow. Every so often I come across a thread where i recognize most of the users there even in the big communities with over 30k members and I haven’t even been on lemmy that long.

  • Today@lemmy.world
    0·
    1 month ago

    I don’t understand what neck beard means. I see it used, but I still can’t really figure out what it means. The other thing I don’t understand is incel, not that you used that word but it’s another one that I see used frequently that I don’t understand. Are the two related? Also, I’m old In case you couldn’t tell

    • RedAggroBest@lemmy.world
      1·
      1 month ago

      Neckbeards: having “facial” hair that basically only covers the neck. It’s the idea that these guys who don’t have the facial hair to grow a full beard have poor hygiene.

      Incel: Involuntary Celibate, shortened to incel. Someone who can’t get laid for one reason or another. The propblem being the people who generally self-identity as incel, who are usually toxic and sexist.

      These aren’t necessarily linked, but incels are usually the type to have such poor hygiene as to have a neckbeard.

      • Today@lemmy.world
        2·
        1 month ago

        Ohhhh. Thank you!

        I thought neckbeard referred to a hipster beard. That makes more sense now.

        Weirdly, sex has changed in the last couple of decades. When i was young (back in my day 🤦) women could get laid anytime they wanted and men had to put in a little effort. So when i hear involuntarily celibate, i just think ‘don’t be a dick. You’re gonna have to work a little for it,’ but i guess they’re not getting any because they’re misogynistic?

        • shani66@ani.social
          4·
          1 month ago

          Lots of people just can’t or don’t get laid for plenty of reasons, shyness or some kind of disinterest does not an incel make. An incel is mostly synonymous with what you probably think of when you hear basement dweller, but inverse the elitism and with an added sexual element. extreme misogyny, extreme entitlement towards women, extreme resentment towards the sexually active, occasionally fixated on the idea of masculinity, and overwhelming self hatred.

    • avguser@lemmy.world
      1·
      1 month ago

      From Wikipedia:

      “Neckbeard” is a pejorative term and stereotype for an adult man or teenage boy who exhibits characteristics such as social awkwardness, underachievement, or pretentiousness.

      And incels are described as:

      An online community of young men who consider themselves unable to attract women sexually, typically associated with views that are hostile toward women and men who are sexually active.

      Certainly not related communities but could conceivably overlap. Not surprising that a lot of Internet trolls fall into one of those categories.