Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Alpha Mail: Gammas in the Wild

From a reader:
Spotting Gammas in the Internet wilds is relatively easy. Whenever there is a debate, they always hedge their arguments in a sort of supposed plausible deniability. Rather than directly addressing a point, and crafting a counterpoint, they deliver some kind of sarcastic reply that, if they are challenged on, they will claim wasn't aimed at the original post. The format is like this:

OP: The sky is blue.
Gamma: You know, so many stupid people think the sky is blue.

If challenged on the attack, the Gamma will try to escape with "oh, I wasn't talking about YOU," even when it is clear that he was. He'll then spin himself as the victim when the OP replies with a counterattack. He seems blissfully unaware that this sort of passive-aggressive behavior generates a raging desire to throttle the crap out of the Gamma. He must also be unaware that anyone with intelligence sees right through him. The Gamma thinks this kind of thing is supremely clever, when in reality it demonstrates in full public view just how much of a Dunning-Kruger idiot he really is.
Yes, if there is one thing, just ONE thing that I could convince every Gamma of, I would choose to convince them that they are not fooling anyone. For some reason, they seem to believe that their transparent little tactics are opaque to everyone else, and that no one realizes what they're doing.

I think this may be part of why women hate Gammas so much. Gammas often use female tactics, but when they do, they tend to use them ineptly. So, women tend to feel contempt for them in addition to feeling that the Gamma is invading their turf and playing the game wrong.

I think it must be difficult to live life as a Gamma, though, in that they're direct-conflict-avoidant and yet are constantly trying to pick fights. All I know is that once I recognize a man as a Gamma, I don't argue with him or even discuss substantive things with him anymore. I have no interest in their constant quibbling, dramatic posturing, and silly theatrics. You can't always punch them in the face, but it is very easy to cut them out of your social circle, because no one else really wants them around either. After that, it's easy to ignore them.

DU or GTFO.

30 comments:

Unknown said...

GTFO I understand, DU is new to me. Can someone please enlighten me?

Laguna Beach Fogey said...

I suspect DU, or 'Dude Up!,' is a variant of the Manosphere exhortation to 'Man Up!'

Mr.MantraMan said...

Difficult? It might be disagreeable but these are the salad days of Gammatude and general all around Bitchery of the Holy Womynhood.

Feckless conservatism has been reduced to what amounts to is a young boy trying to mansplain to his scolding mother and being solidly rebuked for him speaking out of line.

What passes for authority to the Gammas and Bitches is the weak spot

Anonymous said...

Vox, can you add the de-Gamma-fying posts to one of the sidebars? They were a great and important series.

Erynne said...

I read DU as "Dukes Up!" as in, let's you and me fight or get out. This thread is now about the meaning of DU.

Rational Thinker said...

A Gamma thinks that provoking someone to anger shows that the Gamma has won the argument (much like how women view the world). What they hate is being laughed at. I long ago stopped feeling anything but amused pity for them.

Leo Littlebook ID:16216229492837658552 said...

It's "Delta Up".

SQT said...

I might be reading too much into things but I feel like I have spotted a gamma-type when I drop my kids off at school. There's always a ton of traffic and you get used to people being pushy because that's how you have to be to get in and out of the parking lots. Generally people are pretty understanding and if you have a signal on they let you out and you return the favor. But twice now I have had some really grubby looking guys driving crap cars that will not let *anyone* get in front of them. And if you try they get really angry. Secret king phenomenon?

papabear said...

Anyone ever had to deal with a father who is a gamma? How did you cope living with or dealing with him?

Anonymous said...

If nothing else, this election should provide a good opportunity to get a meter-read on how much of the white male population is Gamma.

@SQT
Yup.

@papabear
Similar situation. My father is an Omega/low Delta and I've come to realize that one of my brothers is definitely a Gamma. His argumentativeness and attitude is straight out of the Gamma textbook. (Plus, he hates Trump and is siding with Paul Ryan.) Unfortunately, my father is too easily wound up and frustrated and is unable to handle arguments with my brother well at all.

And this is where Rational Thinker's post comes in: "A Gamma thinks that provoking someone to anger shows that the Gamma has won the argument (much like how women view the world). What they hate is being laughed at. I long ago stopped feeling anything but amused pity for them."

IOW, the key is to be completely relaxed, focused, and grounded.

Unknown said...

Gamma or troll, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the discourse to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous trolling, or to take arms against a sea of gammatude, and by opposing, end our misery: to ignore, to debate no more; and by a debate, to say we end the glory, and the thousand daily ego strokes the rampant bloggard is heir to? 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished, to be able to engage, to discuss substantive things, dialectic, rhetoric, to debate, perchance to crown thyself king; aye, there's the rub, for in that fantasy what riches may come, when we have siphoned off the sucker's coin, must give us pause.

Double E said...

The 'tactic' I have been encountering is not that the argument is initially hedged so much, but that when challenged they very quickly broaden or deteriorate the definition of the words in their argument, to the point that they aren't really wrong any more (using their new definitions). Of course it makes it so that they aren't really saying anything at all, but they don't seem to care about that.

Example: Recently one posted something about how longer voting wait times for minorities on average is indicative of systemic racism. When I destroyed the argument he resorted to claiming that when people say racist these days they mean anything that negatively affects minorities disproportionately, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE OR INTENTION!.

so under that new (patently absurd and frankly useless) definition, he would be correct. But it wasn't him, you see - everybody means that when they say racist these days.

Double E said...

papabear,

Check this out, it may help: http://www.blackdragonblog.com/2016/09/19/deal-problematic-family-members/

Uncle Maffoo said...

@papabear

Having a Gamma father is basically having a secondary Mommy. The Gamma doesn't know how to act masculine/fatherly (but he sure THINKS he knows better than anyone!), but all he does is imitate the female authorities he's had in his life (dominating mother, schoolteachers, etc). I'd say the only way to cope is to keep one's distance, physically and emotionally, and continue on self-improvement. This may hold for one's mother as well, since if Dad is a Gamma, Mom is a "Gamma Hunter" as was written about here before, and likely narcissist or BPD.

Anonymous said...

I don't know, Vox. I think you may be underselling the value of a good punch.

Son of a b...gamma said...

Reading this article gave me a nuclear "A-HA!" moment.

My father is a gamma; he will say things to provoke reactions from family members, then act legitimately surprised and backpedal on the insult or comment e.g. "What?! I'm just saying he doesn't do much with his life." Cannot see anything from my point of view--if it is good for me, but he doesn't agree with it, then it's stupid. He cannot for the life of him understand why I lift weights, don't own a home, or have a girlfriend. These boomers, man--some of them are hopeless.

He is status-driven, constantly talks about his successes at work without being asked about them and is very passive-aggressive towards extended family members who aren't on his socioeconomic or social level. Insecurity at its finest/worst. Pair this with depression/anger issues and you've got the perfect storm.

Does well in his field (150k + a year, owns a business on the side).

I used to hate this man, but now I just feel bad for him and his try-hard ways. It's to the point where I don't argue, I just smirk. Doing my own thing never felt so good.

ScottC said...

Isn't the gamma on the same spectrum as the alpha? They're both status seeking.

It seems like delta is on the same spectrum as the beta, in that they're team players. The gamma isn't hardwired to be subordinate.

papabear said...

Thanks to all who replied to my question!

Haus frau said...

Papabear,
My dad has strong gamma tendencies. My relationship with him improved hugely once I moved out and he figured out I could walk away. If someone wants you in their life they will figure out how to put a cap on their obnoxious tendencies. Also, I don't take his obnoxious tendencies that seriously. My husband and I laugh at what we consider my dad's "quirks". On the hand, my brother in law lost his job a few years ago and went to work for my dad. It almost completely destroyed their relationship. My BIL is now indepently employed and things have improved a lot.

John Doe said...

This silly obsession with gammas reminds me of the "cool" girls in junior h.s. attacking the poor little girls who for whatever reason were "un-cool." It is unseemly, and juvenile.

Jed Mask said...

"I think this may be part of why women hate Gammas so much. Gammas often use female tactics, but when they do, they tend to use them ineptly. So, women tend to feel contempt for them in addition to feeling that the Gamma is invading their turf and playing the game wrong."

Yeah, yeah. And other female tactic women do is to "pretend cry" to "shame you" for not "helping them with whatever unreasonable request" they demand of men but it's nothing but a deceptive sneaky "fitness-test" to test a man's personal tolerance for "giving in to social pressure". Really pathetic.

And in "Gamma men" who go "crybaby" playing the "victim card" female tactic is another real low of "effeminate" in the male sex.

I expect the "female ways" from women but in men... Smh it's deplorable...

Howbeit, Gammas can be good friends to have around if you have the more "friendly" positive kind on the spectrum and not the negative backstabbing, superiority-complex Gammas who are a pain for everyone to be around.

Anonymous said...

Howbeit, Gammas can be good friends to have around if you have the more "friendly" positive kind on the spectrum and not the negative backstabbing, superiority-complex Gammas who are a pain for everyone to be around.

@Jed Mask
I have find that I cannot trust a Gamma any further than I can throw him. Less, actually. I make a partial exception for those I'm actually related to, but that's pretty much it.

This goes for the "friendly" "positive" kind as well. Maybe even more so than the outwardly negative, since they're sneakier and more dangerous if your Gamma-dar isn't that good. (For example, speaking as an ex-Omega Delta, it's very easy for an Omega to mistake a Gamma for higher-ranked than he actually is.)

Leo Littlebook ID:16216229492837658552 said...

A gamma by definition cannot be trusted by the masculine hierarchy. Otherwise he is a delta.

Jed Mask said...

@VFM #7634

"I have find that I cannot trust a Gamma any further than I can throw him. Less, actually. I make a partial exception for those I'm actually related to, but that's pretty much it.

This goes for the "friendly" "positive" kind as well. Maybe even more so than the outwardly negative, since they're sneakier and more dangerous if your Gamma-dar isn't that good. (For example, speaking as an ex-Omega Delta, it's very easy for an Omega to mistake a Gamma for higher-ranked than he actually is.)"

Yeah, I agree... Just have to keep them "at a distance" at best in life. Amen.

Anonymous said...

Isn't the gamma on the same spectrum as the alpha? They're both status seeking.

It seems like delta is on the same spectrum as the beta, in that they're team players. The gamma isn't hardwired to be subordinate.


@One Man's Chorus
I think of an orthogonal axis consisting of Leaders, Followers, and Loners. Most men are Followers, so the Leaders and Loners are oddballs. Deltas, Gammas, and even Omegas can be any of the three, but Alpha, Beta, and Sigma are more properly Alpha Leader, Alpha Follower, and Alpha Loner, respectively. (An Omega Leader? Sure, but they're only likely to manifest while playing World of Warcraft.)

A Delta Leader is honest and honorable, and enjoys leading, but doesn't really have the drive or ambition to make it to the top. (Think of a tough Army Sergeant.) A Gamma Leader is a dishonest snake who tries to take over everything and run it, often having delusions about his own competence. (Think of some of history's most notorious dictators, such as Hitler and Stalin.)

So they're somewhat different from Delta or Gamma Followers, which are simply the archetypes for their ranks. Gamma Followers still have the usual argumentativeness and Secret King complexes, but don't actually try to take over and run things.

Also, both Gamma and Delta Leaders tend to have higher than average N counts, but the quality they pull is distinctly inferior to what an Alpha gets.

Based on this, I'm still not convinced that Bill Clinton, for example, is an Alpha. He could be, but he isn't exactly honorable, and his taste in women isn't the best. He could in fact be a Gamma Leader in sort of the same way Ted Cruz is a Gamma Loner.

Anonymous said...

Actually, come to think of it, perhaps Ted Cruz is a particularly spergy Gamma Leader rather than a Gamma Loner.

Unknown said...

I agree that women hate Gammas, but they would hate them even if they played women's game well. They don't want to a have a man usurping their tool belt.

Unknown said...

So basically, to be an alpha you just ignore anyone who challenges you as to not disturb your pedestaled reality. And if they baselessly insult, then it's a definite give away of their gamma status, but it's ok for an alpha to baselessly insult a gamma. So in other words, deal with a gamma like a gamma. Fake it till you make it, kinda method.

Wild Man said...

VD - I would be interested in your opinion about Rollo Tomassi's leadership style over at Rational Male, as per your socio-sexual hierarchy context. I have been confounded by a weird resistance to addressing new ideas, one way or the other, within the comment threads there - and I'm still a bit confused as to what to make of it.

After quite a bit of interaction over there ...... I'm left with the impression that Rollo's mindset has a feminized flavor to it - gamma-like by your definitions I suppose. Do you concur (or to you think I am missing something with respect to Rollo)?

Neutrinoide said...

Me is the lamda guy that can't never tell you something without adding a commentary.

Me: What is the color of the sky?
Him: Blue. Didn't you learn that at school?

Is that last sentence really necessary? They can't never give constructive critism without adding an inuendo that you are a moron.

Then they act suprise when you say that it starting to be annoying and to fuck off after. A month of those "constructive none insulte of course.

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