Bhawna Atmaram
The Man behind the Incel
‘Involuntary Celibate’=Incel. This term is widely used nowadays to refer to a heterosexual man who has deep-rooted misogynistic perspectives on women and vehemently blames the latter for his lack of romantic success. This particular subculture, essentially online, has become notorious following a murder spree by Elliot Rodger in 2014 in Isla Vista, California.
In a nutshell, the incel nurtures intense resentment against those who are sexually active, musing on violence, whilst expressing rage at women, who are supposedly to blame for their own lack of sexual activity. The incel has the potential of being more extreme than internet trolls, in the sense that he not only fantasises about violence but also tries to turn his daydreams to reality.
The Political Incel
In Mauritius, as in many other countries worldwide, incels are constantly on the prowl. From the incel subculture, a new species has emerged. This distinctive specimen is known as a political incel, who professes full loyalty to a particular political party. He is unable to grasp that there is a marked difference between political rivalry and enmity. Fact: most politicians are rivals and get along with each other. The frustrated political incel, being oblivious to common sense, finds himself in blurred territory, resorting to verbal threats online against those who do not subscribe to his views. Women find themselves at the receiving end of the stick, with rape, bodily harm and death menaces. Due to the anonymous or fake online profiles sported by this type of incel, coupled with a slack attitude by authorities in the cybercrime department, he keeps getting away. Till when though? When will that wake-up call happen?
Morning Routine: Non-Stop Spamming
The incel, as a self-absorbed creature with a dearth of hobbies, has the whole morning to get his fangs out. Obviously, he cannot hold down a proper job due to his superhuman level of stupidity. Owing to his low level of self-esteem, he has to stay hidden behind his screen. Unable to socialise with people in real life out there, he cowers in a cowardly fashion in his hell hole and identifies social media posts with which he disagrees. Then begins a tirade of non-stop spamming of posts, where he asserts his political allegiance strongly in very basic language. After all, his IQ is sub-zero.
As the rising sun blesses us with its gentle morning rays, the incel will write simplistic things such as: ‘My party is king!’ or ‘My leader is the leader of all leaders!’ Whichever the poster, the post, the page or the group, as long as it is in direct opposition with his beliefs, the discontented political incel will keep trolling and spamming, with bated breath. His exasperated self, of course, opens him to an avenue of ridicule but he is too idiotic to comprehend that.
Midday Routine: Death Threats
As the day elapses, the political incel moves on to bigger and gorier things. It is high time to escalate the situation and death threats are the order of the day. As soon as he disagrees with an opinion, he will ruthlessly pester the posters. Nothing will stop him until he gets their blood. He will even go the extra mile of sending death threats via private message. It is to ensure that the threats are duly delivered to the intended recipient. The service is absolutely top-notch. One cannot complain.
So, don’t you dare disagree with his political party nor leader! You will forever be blacklisted and your head will be chopped off. The embittered political incel will either propose to dispose of you personally or will send hoodlums after you. Like a mafia boss. Yeah.
Evening Routine: Sexual Assault Threats
Finally, at nightfall, the disheartened political incel comes to the realisation that he is no gentleman to entertain ladies to a candlelight dinner. Rather, he has to resort to a solo sorry dinner of stale and mouldy bread, reflecting his state of mind. As he goes through social media posts offending his fragile political beliefs, especially by women, his primal urges take over. He abhors strong, poised and outspoken women who know what they bring to the table.
Clearly, he feels that his masculinity (if it ever existed) has been challenged and the weakling that he is, cannot cope with the hordes of confident women out there. With his ego crushed beyond repair, the political incel starts typing out sexual assault threats. With shaking fingers, he narrates his sickest fantasies about what these women deserve, according to him. Rage builds up within him as he figures out that he is worth nothing without the blessings of his political party. Does his dear leader even have an inkling of who he is? He is a mere weasel within party ranks and his only claim to fame would be to try to scare off women who are not afraid to stand up for their rights and have no qualms about having different perspectives.
And it goes on and on…
The exasperated political incel, with nothing better to do, sticks to the same routine, day after day. Inwardly, he prays for recognition and honours from his leader. After all, every dog has its day. For the time being, he banks on the sluggishness of the cybercrime department of his country to stay camouflaged. He lets his dirty fingers do his filthy business of threatening and demeaning those who dare think differently. How dare they?
Ironically, while the incensed political incel remains trapped into his murky and virtual confines, life goes on for the rest. Until the cybercrime authorities decide to snap out of it…
