The word “shibboleth” originates from a biblical account of two warring peoples, the Gileadites and the Ephraimites. After a crushing defeat, the invading Ephraimite tribe attempted to cross the Jordan River to flee home, but were stopped by Gileadites on a mission to ensure that no Ephraimite made it back alive. The issue was that the people of Gilead and the people of Ephraim were practically identical to each other. Attempting to identify the Ephraimites by appearance alone would be like trying to pick a Swede out of a room of Norwegians. Where the two tribes did differentiate, however, was language. Judges 12:5-6 tells the story:

And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay; Then they said unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.

Yes, a lispy pronunciation of the word for the head of a rye stalk was used to pick out and slaughter fleeing invaders. Yet this was not the last time shibboleths were used in war to identify the enemy. During the Finnish-Russian war, Finns used the word yksi, meaning “one,” to weed out Slavs. Americans in WWII could pick out German spies by their use of the word “lorry” rather than pickup truck. There are countless examples. Today, we may recognize Midwesterners by their use of the word “pop” to describe soft drinks, or a Pennsylvanian by their use of “you’se” or rather than “y’all” or “you all.”

The newest frontier of shibbolethian terms is of course, the internet. Your typical chronically online based INTJ Sigma Male can sniff out a Dark Iron Gains follower from your average Twitter user in merely a few exchanges. Use this short guide to help you identify schizo from normie next time you’re using the internet.

Based

(And ___pilled, of course)

This word used to hold power. Finding its roots in the music of Bay Area rapper Lil B “The Based God,” “based” was originally used to denote self-confidence and positivity. In an interview with Complex, Lil B explainsed how he reclaimed the word. “They was like, ‘You’re based.’ They’d use it as a negative. And what I did was turn that negative into a positive. I started embracing it like, ‘Yeah, I’m based.’ I made it mine.”

Since then, Lil B’s original vision for the word has been corrupted. Now, based has nearly entered the mainstream as a catch-all term for “I agree with you” or “good take.” If you see someone using the word “based,” no safe assumption can be made about them other than that they spend too much time on the internet. Despite leftists and so-called “journalists” claiming that based is an alt-right dog whistle, or has been claimed by right wing extremists, this shibboleth has been cyber-culturally diffused to the point of being universal.

[The Twelve Most Based Rap Albums of All-Time]

Incel

(Supremely gentlemanlike)

The word “incel” is a portmanteau of the phrase involuntary celibate. Incels believe that they cannot and will not ever have sex, merely because of the physical or mental cards dealt to them in life: their recessed chins (“chincels”), their puny wrists (“wristcels”), or their Asian complexion (“ricels” or “currycels”). A cursory investigation of the average incel usually reveals that some basic hygiene improvements, a few months in the gym, and a few hours of sunlight would ameliorate their debilitating conundrums. However, it seems many incels derive a sick pleasure from being the black sheep of society, like a troll under a bridge reveling in the screams and looks of disgust from pedestrians. Famous incels include Elliot Rodger, Chris Chan, and possibly Friedrich Nietzsche.

Normally, only two demographics regularly use the word “incel.” These include actual incels, and leftist women on Twitter using the word to insult happily married men with children.

Mogged

(How will you ever recover?)

To be “mogged” is a fate worse than death. The word finds it roots in the acronym AMOG, which stands for “Alpha Male Of the Group.” An AMOG is easily identifiable amongst his peers by his appearance, physique, or charisma. The act of mogging is usually used by lifters to describe when an individual is out-sized, out-lifted, or out-angled. Some incels use mogging to describe any physical comparison, like “voicemogging,” when a man’s voice is much deeper than the mogged individuals, or “jawmogging,” when an individual’s jaw is stronger and more pronounced than his unfortunate victim’s.

If someone uses the word “mog,” a quick measurement of their biceps or body fat percentage can tell you whether they are a lifter or an incel; in other words, a mogger or a mogee.

[Lifter Opinions Matter More]

Redpilled

(Now you see…)

In 1999’s “The Matrix,” Neo is faced with an important decision. Take the blue pill and remain in the façade of normalcy, or take the red pill and leave the simulation for life in the dystopian real world. To be “redpilled” is to accept the hard-to-swallow truth, and in turn, possibly a more difficult existence.

One can be redpilled in many regards. The original use of redpill was to describe those on the political fringe, usually far-right. Other redpills include the Mentzerpill, the practice of bodybuilder Mike Mentzer’s physically difficult and mentally high-intensity training style, or the slonkpill, the acceptance of the revolutionary tenets of Raw Egg Nationalism.

If you hear or see someone using the word “redpill,” assume they are either going to blow your mind or say the dumbest shit you’ve heard all week. Either way, you’ll want to listen.

Blackpilled

(It is so over bros…)

Whereas the redpill is a cry of victory, the “blackpill” is an admittance of defeat. Taking the blackpill is accepting that the state of the world is only going to get worse, and 400,000 more years of Kali Yuga lie ahead. While the redpilled fight for a better world, the blackpilled recognize that the only solution aside from a nuclear winter is removing yourself from society completely and shutting the metaphorical blinds on the chaos that lies outside. The most blackpilled among us tend to be older, more psychologically weathered individuals who have fought until their spirit broke, and will live out the rest of their days with a grimace, wondering where it all went wrong. This shibboleth is less tied to a community and more so to a demographic of broken anons.

The inverse of the blackpill, naturally, is the whitepill, which means holding onto hope or optimism even in a blackpilled world.

Glowie

(You just run them over, that’s what you do)

The word comes from the brilliant computer programmer and creator of TempleOS, Terry Davis. When demonstrating features of his software, Terry remarked, “The CIA n*****s glow in the dark. You can see them if you’re driving. You just run them over, that’s what you do.” Since then, glowie is used by the more conspiratorial corners of the internet to call out suspected federal agents. For example, one user may post the question, “Do you own any automatic unregistered firearms?” Another user may respond, “You’re glowing, fedboy.” Obvious bait meant to elicit unsavory reactions from more fringe groups is referred to as “glowposting”, with some even calling the QAnon “drops” a series of glowposts.

Glowie is typically used by schizos and INTJ pattern recognizers (one and the same?). It is a staple shibboleth of conspiracy, paranormal, and firearm-focused online communities. 

[The Countere Guide to Spotting NPCs]

Sigma Male

(Bro, it’s like an alpha but better)

A “sigma male,” in its original definition, is a successful introvert outside of the “social hierarchy.” There are entire communities of schlubby men online dedicated to categorizing men into their hierarchal roles: alpha, beta, sigma, omega, and so on. Most people in these communities proudly claim to be either sigma males or alpha males, but considering the rarity they attribute to these types, it seems unlikely that most of these claims are true.

The term sigma did not reach its full potential until it reached the INTJ Lifter (see “The Book of the INTJ Lifter”). INTJs are a rare personality type included in the sixteen Meyers-Briggs personality types. Some have called the INTJ the “Evil Genius” or “Mastermind” type for their uncanny ability to plot, predict, and execute grand schemes that would be seemingly impossible for others. The word “Sigma” spoke—no, sang—to the INTJ lifter, who granted its real definition.

A true Sigma Male is not afraid to shit on the stair-climber at the gym. He receives big loans ($20) from powerful people (his mom). He has been bulking since 2006 and plans to time his cut perfectly for the coming of the rapture. Girls scare him. Girls are also scared of him. He is the archetype, the Nietzschean Übermensch. He is Heracles, he is Beowulf, he is the first to emerge and the last to leave. He is a combination of genetic greatness and unbreakable will. He plays by no rules. Famous Sigma Males in history include Arminius, Diogenes, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Julius Caesar. More contemporary Sigma Males include Dark Iron Gains, Theodore Kazcynski, PhD, and Mike Ma.

Much like mogging, this shibboleth relies on the appearance of the speaker to determine their origin. Do they look like a gopher that drinks diet soda? They’re probably using it by it’s original, worthless definition. Do they look like a venison-enjoyer sculpted of marble? Then definitely being used as the all-powerful nonsense word the INTJ lifters forged it to be.

Yuo 

(Now yuo see…)

This may look like a typo, but it is not. It is possibly the most deliberate, purposeful spelling you’ll ever have the pleasure of reading. The word originates from a crusty meme of Heath Ledger’s Joker staring ahead, with the words “Now yuo see…” indicating a great truth was revealed. If someone refers to you as yuo, you’ve likely been redpilled (or even jokerpilled) and don’t even know it yet. Yuo are now a student, whether yuo are prepared to accept the wisdom or not…

Yuo is one of the few words, as of March 2022, that is still unsoiled by grifters; its use denotes fellowship in this little thing of ours—this post-ironic shitposting subculture—and a passing familiarity to key Instagram accounts such as Dark Iron Gains, @INTJmoments, the 8pl8s podcast, and Schizo Lifter.

Follow Dakota on Instagram.