How the incel-originated suffix "-maxxing" went from subculture slang to Pentagon tweets
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Summary
This article explores how internet slang evolves, focusing on the suffix "-maxxing" which originated from the eugenicist "looksmaxxing" subculture associated with incels. Linguist Adam Aleksic (Etymology Nerd) discusses how recommendation algorithms spread Gen-Z slang, noting that most of it is appropriated either from Black communities or incels. The piece traces how "-maxxing" moved from niche online subcultures to mainstream TikTok trends and even official Pentagon communications like "lethality maxxing," raising questions about the stakes of using words without understanding their origins.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledmost "Gen-Z slang" is either appropriated from Black people or incels
we trace how -maxxing went from the eugenicist looksmaxxing subculture to trending TikToks to the Pentagon tweeting about 'lethality maxxing'
we ask what's actually at stake when we use words without knowing where they come from
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