Being called “Alpha”

I'm Surly.

That works.

Ooh! I like this version better. I’m going to be a Stooge.

I'm a Trekkie. No, don't like that.

I'm a Gary Fisher. No, not a good look, being mistaken for Paul Gadd too often.

Got it. I'm a salsa, I'm spicy, and got moves.

(that is so far away....less salsa, more gravy. Moves - skirting the dance floor making sure my feet never touch the wooden bit until I reach the safety of the bar)

I think there are definitely people who are alphas. But saying you’re an alpha would be the ultimate no-no. And since alphas do (in my opinion) exist, then it’s quite natural that the world would be full of folks who would just love to be one, or claim to be one. But claiming to be an alpha is the fastest way to look like the most shallow blaggard.

I can also think of many, many females who would qualify for the term alpha in my opinion, although that may be incorrect according to the definition of the term.

I'm simple :/

I'm a BigWig Pompino.

😳

Surely a proper Alpha doesn't give a shit that there's a category and rides a singlespeed...

I think the idea that there are people that are more alpha or whatever is true but the concept has been co-opted by some groups that have come to add extra specifics obsesse about the definitions add some bull shit club membership for their own ego.

Sounds a bit grim and I wish him good health. It would be slightly interesting to see if his output has changed as a result, but I am not going to read it all to find out.

If you listen to podcasts, check out Behind The Bastards episodes from 1/11/22 & 3/11/22 and 3/1/23 & 5/1/23 to listen to the lads dissecting some of JP’s new show (I think maybe it’s on YouTube?). He is laughably full of absolute shit. But he dresses it up well. This thread really needs a bit of STW’s classic beta, geetee72.

I received a parcel from Hawaii yesterday. Aloha mail.

I’m pretty sure we could come up with our own system based on types of bikes.

Modern cutting edge technology Ebike 😀

I’m pretty sure we could come up with our own system based on types of bikes.

iron horse. Pretty cool back in the day but now a supermarket special…

This thread really needs a bit of STW’s classic beta, #########

Are you certain that it hasn't any ?  I keep getting weird deja vu (redacted, as the post I quoted has gone/changed)

Are you certain that it hasn’t any ? I keep getting weird deja vu (redacted, as the post I quoted has gone/changed)

Nah, surely not.

Ah - too subtle for me, DD

And, of course, nothing like paying cash for your waterbed to impress the ladies.

https://twitter.com/3YearLetterman/status/1614705262392213506

I think there are definitely people who are alphas. But saying you’re an alpha would be the ultimate no-no. And since alphas do (in my opinion) exist, then it’s quite natural that the world would be full of folks who would just love to be one, or claim to be one. But claiming to be an alpha is the fastest way to look like the most shallow blaggard.

I think the idea that there are people that are more alpha or whatever is true but the concept has been co-opted by some groups that have come to add extra specifics obsesse about the definitions add some bull shit club membership for their own ego.

I agree with that ^

I'm aware that the original paper behind the description has been debunked, but it just a way to describe that kind of person that you see sprinkled throughout history.

I think now though, two things have happened:
The tail is wagging the dog. People who don't have that kind of personality are aspiring to be "alphas", and so are mimicking what they understand to be alpha behaviors. My impression is that they try to be "confident and decisive" and end up acting arrogant and belligerent.

The term itself is now toxic. I think there is a huge overlap between people trying to convince the world that they are "alpha males" and what is widely regarded (correctly IMO) as toxic masculinity. I had a weird conversation with my 12 YO nephew the other day (also mentioned on the Andrew Tate thread) - who understood masculinity and equality to be two opposing ideas. He's been in hospital a lot this year - and I suspect he's been watching a lot of youtube.

I had a weird conversation with my 12 YO nephew the other day (also mentioned on the Andrew Tate thread) – who understood masculinity and equality to be two opposing ideas.

That's creepy.

Yeah - I did my best to talk to him about it, but was pretty blindsided tbh, came completely out of nowhere.

Some lyrics from Crass .
“If you're a man, you'd better act like one,
Develop your muscles, use your prick like a gun.
**** anything that moves, but never pay the price,
Steal, ****, slaughter, that's their advice.
Are you man enough? Ask the posters on the walls,
Have you got what it takes? Guts and balls?
Keep your myth of manhood, it's been going on too long,
A history of slaughter is the proof that it is wrong.”

Facial hair is another big alpha move.

https://twitter.com/ChristnNitemare/status/1615818994790932489

Facial hair is another big alpha move.

Isn’t ‘Alpha’ yesterdays news now? Surely Sigma is the new achingly cool Alpha male that is to be aspired to?

Tate has just had his detention extended to end of feb.  I bet in a Romanian jail he is finding out just how alpha he is.  Uk jails are horrible places.  I cannot imagine Romanian are any better.

It's a myth, built on a false premise.
Anyone describing themselves as 'alpha' is inadequate in some way.

Not sure if this is relevant or just me - but I would never use the term Alpha.  I would describe it as "Alpha Male".  Not withstanding that the science is discredited I would have interpreted that as a complement - you are a leader with people who follow you and aspire to be like you and the women in the pack want you to sire their offspring.

Interestingly though my teenage daughter would use the term Alpha.  She means it to mean all the negative connotations of macho bullshit.

So, is it like "wicked" or "bad" which have evolved over generations to have meanings which are antonyms of their original?  Does it depend if you are 50 or 25 whether its positive to be Alpha/AlphaMale or not?

For me either way its negative.  alpha male used to complement a leader I think both the leader and the person saying it are macho idiots.  Teenage girl uses it then I would immediately think of your daughters version of it

But then I don't have a trace of alpha in me

Thing is, if this story is true, and the OP didn’t seize the opportunity and immediately steer his wife and her friend into a threes-up then what kind of alpha is he really?

Thing is, "alphas" rarely get those opportunities, too self centred and egotistical.
Nice bit of honesty and listening, that works much better.

That beard up there is amazing. WTF is it? Not getting the beard reference though to be honest.

That beard up there is amazing. WTF is it?

Facial hair is another big alpha move.

That video won't play. What's the facial hair/alpha connection?

A venn diagram of "Alpha" and EDC knives would be amusing.

Oh god that video is amazing. Mullet man with “the babes are back” 😂🤣

Never understood the fear of baldness. Mine started thinning in my late teens/early twenties so I just whipped it all off and rock the upside down head look! Obviously with a spray on beard.

Recent examples of Alpha behaviour I've come across were when doing taxi driving/transport for mixed sex groups of cyclists. There was often (not always) one guy (always a guy) in the group who wanted to take control, organise the bikes, luggage and seating who then took umbrage when I did all of those things, often counter to his wishes. You could see it in the group dynamics almost right away. Typically the guy would be really huffy for the rest of the trip and you could sense a relief from the others in the group too.

Folk who have guided  groups of walkers, climbers, cyclists etc will have experienced the same thing.

I cannot stand faffage and often will try to organise groups - but I don't get huffy / consider it an attack on me if someone else wants to do it.  I'll just walk away and leave them to it.  Easier for me that way

IMO the whole alpha male crap is to try to find a cover for their deep insecurities and low self esteem

I cannot stand faffage and often will try to organise groups – but I don’t get huffy / consider it an attack on me if someone else wants to do it.

Sure. I can be a bit like that too but, as you say, there are ways of going about it and you don't have to feel personally challenged when it's not going your way.

There's also another side to this where a group will quite often look to someone to be their "leader". I'm sure you've been in that situation where something is afoot and everyone suddenly looks to you to take control 😁

What’s the facial hair/alpha connection?

There is a very long established link between the two based on the fact that most men can grow significant amounts of facial hair and women generally can't.

It's for that reason that men adorned with facial hair were considered more masculine and therefore more intimidating by the military.

After the Crimean War it was compulsory, for men, to have a moustache in the British army. That regulation wasn't scrapped until 1916, I believe that facial hair caused issues with wearing gasmasks.

Personally I consider allowing facial hair to grow rampantly across your face to be a sign of slovenly laziness, and neatly trimmed facial hair to be a sign of excessive vanity.

Not that I care what other blokes do with their faces mind.

Edit: Actually I do care - I'd rather not see the remains of your supper when you're talking to me.

What style of facial hair for you then Ernie?  Zapata moustache?  Guevara beard?

Che didn't have time to shave. Nothing to do with laziness or vanity.

Edit: And Karl Marx liked to keep up with the latest fashion.

And Lenin too.

Someone else who was very busy:

"I’m not thinking of cutting my beard, because I’m accustomed to my beard and my beard means many things to my country” Fidel Castro

Stalin had a fine mustache and Mao was clean shaven.  Makes you think

Personally I consider allowing facial hair to grow rampantly across your face to be a sign of slovenly laziness, and neatly trimmed facial hair to be a sign of excessive vanity.

whereas I see being clean shaven as a desperate attempt to hold on to youth. You ever tried growing a beard and keeping it looking well kempt? It’s a damned sight trickier than shaving I’ll tell you that. The moustache by itself is dangerous though. Too many historical villains with a ‘Stache of some sort for there not to be a connection.

Grasping at straws to correlate having a beard with the whole Alpha thing in my opinion. Most of your typical CEO or leader types are shiny faced.

, I believe that facial hair caused issues with wearing gasmasks.

Yep, exactly why they fell out of fashion. Couldn’t be having mutton chops and mustard gas.

Stalin had a fine mustache and Mao was clean shaven. Makes you think

Yeah and Adolph Hitler had a sense of humour - his moustache was clearly for its comical value.

Most of your typical CEO or leader types are shiny faced.

That's the drugs...

🙂

Can I do my joke?
If ****ing gives you hairy palms....
how did you get your beard?