Terminology
Bias | Bias is our tendency to see the world from our particular lens of experience. It can lead us to ignore the evidence or make assumptions not based on evidence. It can impact what we remember and what witnesses remember. It can create blinders for BIT team members and impact their ability to build rapport, connect, and create safe/neutral spaces. While we can never remove bias, we can train to make us more aware of how bias can affect decision making.
Microaggression | These are brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to certain individuals because of their group membership.
Microassaults: Conscious and intentional actions or slurs, such as using racial epithets, displaying swastikas or deliberately serving a white person before a person of color in a restaurant.
Microinsults: Verbal and nonverbal communications that subtly convey rudeness and insensitivity and demean a person’s racial heritage or identity. An example is an employee who asks a colleague of color how she got her job, implying she may have landed it through an affirmative action or quota system.
Microinvalidations: Communications that subtly exclude, negate or nullify the thoughts, feelings or experiential reality of a person of color. For instance, white people often ask Asian-Americans where they were born, conveying the message that they are perpetual foreigners in their own land.
Silo(ing) | Siloing occurs when departments or individuals hold onto information in isolation, without working collaboratively. These isolated communications occur when each department focuses on their own individual mission, policy, and rules without seeing themselves as part of a larger, more complex system. Communications that focus primarily on a single department to the detriment of seeing threat assessment and behavioral intervention as larger, community-based approaches are said to be operating in a “silo.” Much like the tall grain silos that are spotted throughout the Midwest, they are single structures serving their function, separated from the larger overall system.
Lockdown/Barricade | This is used when there is an act or threat of violence on site. It is initiated in response to a stimulus such as screaming, gunshots, or a suspicious person is seen on campus. When lockdown/barricade is initiated, ensure the classroom door is locked; barricade door with furniture; move students to designated area of classroom, away from doors and windows; turn off lights/close window blinds; silence all cell phones; provide students with clear instructions; and prepare to fight back if classroom is breached. After the classroom is secured, take attendance/calm students and ensure no students to leave classroom until all clear is given.
Rally Point | The initial location students are moved to near campus during an evacuation, at minimum 300 feet from the school. Be prepared to change locations if necessary.
Secure School | This is used when there is an act of threat of violence near your site. When secure school is initiated, ensure classroom door is locked; close blinds; inform students of the possible danger; listen for further instructions; and continue class instruction. Once the classroom is secured, take attendance/calm students and ensure that no students leave classroom unless escorted by adult.
Shelter in Place | This is used during severe weather or a hazmat event. During a severe weather event, move away from the windows and stat indoors. During a hazmat event, seal the room, turn off the HVAC system and close doors and windows.
AMOG | "Alpha male of the group."
Alpha Male | A bold, confident leader, opposite of a Beta.
Becky | An average young woman, subordinate to a Stacy in looks and status.
Beta Male | A weak man; the opposite of an alpha.
Betabux | A romantic relationship in which the man provides financially for his partner; often used to imply that the woman is only with him for his money.
Big Black Cock Theory (BBC) | The theory that black men are inherently more virile and sexually appealing, making them able to “dickmog” (see mogging) other races.
Blackpill | The belief that genetics predetermine one’s status and desirability; women are only attracted to those with superior genes.
Bluepill | A term taken from the Matrix movies that generally means to ignore reality; in this context it is the belief that relationships are formed based on compatibility and kindness and respect toward women.
-Cel | This suffix can be used to define one’s subset within the incel community based on physical features, interests, race, or defining traits (e.g., a gingercel is an incel who has red hair).
Chad | An ideal male specimen; Chads can attract nearly all women easily; ethnic counterparts are Tyrone (black), Chaddam (Arab), Chadpreet (Indian), Chang (East Asian).
Chadfish | Pretending to be an attractive man in your photos when you are not one.
Cope | Adopting a false but comforting belief to avoid the hash truth; often used by trolls to mock everyday activities.
Cuck | Short for cuckold, this is a man with an unfaithful wife/girlfriend; also used for men who are considered weak or servile and often used as a derogatory term for men with moderate or progressive views.
Day of Retribution | Idealized day in which incels will strike back against Chads and women; also referred to as “Beta Uprising” or “Incel Rebellion.”
FOOS | “Fall on one’s sword.”
Femoid/Foid | Demeaning term referring to women as less than human.
Go ER/ER/Go Rodger | To go on a killing spree, like Elliot Rodger; the letters E and R are sometimes capitalized in unrelated words (i.e. sEcuRity).
Heightpill | A subset of blackpill, which suggests women are primarily drawn to tall men.
Incel | This term stands for “involuntary celibate” and represents a range of thinking and behaviors from social awkwardness and difficulty forming connections with women to hardline misogyny and active threats to punish them for rejecting the person’s attempts at dating. Common subsets include:
Baldcels: Bald or balding
Currycel: Indian
Clowncel: Identifies with and admires the Joker from Batman
Fakecel: Pretending to be incel to be edgy or to fit in
Framecel: A man with the bone structure of a young teen
Gymcel: Believes he can compensate with muscles
Heightcel/Shortcel: A short man who is an incel because of his height
Mentalcel/Medcel: Has psychological illnesses or medical issues
Workcel: Too preoccupied with work for a relationship
Juggernaut Law | The theory that you can’t stop a woman’s dating potential; unattractive and flawed women make men feel like they have a chance, so they will still have their pick of men.
LDAR | “Lie down and rot.”
-Maxx/-Maxxing | An attempt to improve dating chances by improving an aspect of one’s life (e.g., looksmaxx).
Mewing | An attempt to improve one’s jawline by holding the tongue hard against the roof of the mouth; created by orthodontist Mike Mew.
Mog/Mogging | The shortened form of AMOG, to mog is to be more good-looking or superior in some way.
My Twisted World | Name of Rodgers’ manifesto, which is often seen as a basis of incel philosophy.
NEET | “Not in education, employment, or training.”
Noodlewhore | An Asian woman.
Normie | An average boring person, someone who is average in looks, between a Chad and an incel.
PSL | An acronym for the forums ”PUAhate.com/Sluthate/Lookism.net.”
Pump and Dump | Having sex with a woman who is looking for a relationship with no intention of pursuing a relationship.
RGIF | “Raping girls is fun.”
Redpill | In the Matrix movies, the redpill wakes one up to the truth of reality; in incel circles, it is the belief that all women are attracted to the most alpha man and that one can compensate for poor genes by working out or gaining wealth or status.
Rope/Roping | To commit suicide.
Ropefuel/Suifuel | Suicide fuel; something deeply depressing that drives self-hate (e.g., an attractive woman in a relationship with someone you consider less attractive than yourself).
Saint Alek | Alek Minassian, the Toronto van attacker.
Saint Elliot | Elliot Rodger, the Isla Vista Killer.
Saint Yogacel | Scott Beierle, the Tallahasee yoga studio killer.
Soyboy | An effeminate, feminist or non-fighting man, with low athleticism; incels believe soy lowers testosterone.
Stacy | The female counterpoint to a Chad; the ideal woman who is out of reach for any non-Chad man.
Supreme Gentleman | How Elliot Rodger referred to himself; women are attracted to Chads even though incels are “Supreme Gentlemen.”
Thot | A woman who has many casual sexual encounters.
The Wall/Agepill/Milkmired | The inevitability of age making men and women less fertile and attractive.
Affective Violence | Affective violence is the result of a progressive, biologically driven path towards physical violence. It is poorly planned and a reaction to environmental stressors. Affective violence is based upon the primal instinct of fight or flight, fueled by adrenaline, and characterized by someone losing control and ultimately attacking a victim.
Catalyst Event | These negative events occur and act like the catalyst in a chemical reaction, speeding up the escalation, like the loss of a job, relationship, or finances can act to further an attack plan.
Costuming | As an attacker prepares, they often find clothing, tactical gear, and accessories they will need during the attack. This may start with an affiliation to a group like the Proud boys or Attomwaffen and eventually involves purchasing ballistic plates, knee and elbow pads, harnesses, and/or ammunition containers. In some attacks, they have taken on the appearance of figures such as the Dark Knight, Joker, and characters from The Matrix.
Free Fall | Free fall describes a more general set of problems like failing supports, mental illness flair ups and a general sense of hopelessness. The free fall becomes more concerning as multiple, chronic problems intersect, eventually creating an inability to function and a lack of hope that things will improve.
Leakage | This refers to sharing attack details, intentionally or unintentionally, with a third party. At first, these are vague hints at frustration, growing unhappiness and unfairness with no mention of a specific time, place, or target of an attack. Leakage increases as they vent frustrations verbally/online and demand justice. Threats then become specific and lethal with a time and location mentioned.
Legacy Token | The legacy token is a manifesto, written text, online blog, video project, piece of art, diary, or journal created prior to an attack and left for someone to find after the attack.
Objectification | There is a depersonalization regarding how others are seen with an increasing tendency to see them as “less than” or unworthy of basic consideration. This manifests in name calling and the use of racist, misogynistic or bigoted language. As objectification escalates, there are increased work, school, and home conflicts, with threats and negative actions. They eventually see their target as undeserving of any consideration and simply as an object in the way of their goal.
Predatory Violence | Predatory violence is described as an intent-driven, planned attack. This aggression occurs when a subject becomes isolated, disconnected, lacks trust, and often feels threatened and frustrated by a perceived attack.
Protective Factors | Protective factors add stability and support to an individual’s experience and create a defense against elements that may incite or motivate violence. When conducting a threat assessment, it is essential to balance risk factors against the protective factors that exist for an individual.
Individual Protective Factors—Individual attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors
Relationship Protective Factors—Social groups, peers, and family behaviors and influences
Community Protective Factors—Characteristics and conditions of physical and social environment
Societal—Social and cultural norms
Risk Factors | Risk factors identify the personality traits, behavioral indicators, social and peer interactions, environmental stressors, threats, acquisition of or access to lethal means, and other contextual clues that have been noted in those who move forward with a targeted attack plan.
A key aspect of understanding risk factors is the importance of seeing these in combination, like puzzle pieces coming together to create a larger meaning. As with a puzzle, one piece alone is not particularly useful. It’s when these pieces combine that the factors begin to be more useful in understanding risk.
Substantive Threat | Substantive threats are more lasting and intentional, reaching beyond the current incident. In comparison to transient threats, substantive threats are 36 times more likely to be carried out.
Transient Threat | Transient threats are typically made in reaction to an intense, emotional, and passionate conflict. They are often made to protect reputation or “save face” and rarely have lethality or a high likelihood of follow up or action.
1776 | 1776 and the American Revolution serve as a symbol of future revolution in protest of Donald Trump’s failed re-election and other events warranting an uprising.
18 | Adolf Hitler. The simplest of alphanumeric codes involves swapping the letters of the alphabet for corresponding numbers. So, a=1, b=2, c=3 and so on. The use of the number 18 symbolizes the A in Adolf (a=1) and the H in Hitler (h=8)
28 | Blood and Honor. The use of the number 28 symbolizes the B in blood (b=2) and the H in honor (h=8). Blood and Honor was the motto of the Hitler Youth.
4/20 | This is Adolf Hilter’s birthday.
5 Words | “I have nothing to say” is the advice white supremacists suggest using when responding to questions by law enforcement.
88 | Heil Hitler. The use of the number 88 symbolizes the H in Heil (a=8) and the H in Hitler (h=8).
ACAB | This is an acronym that stands for “all cops are bastards” and is commonly used by racist skinheads.
AKIA | This klansmen declaration signifies “a Klansman I am.”
AYAK | This is a Ku Klux Klan phrase for “are you a Klansman?”
Anudda Shoah | This is an antisemitic phrase used to troll and trigger Jews. The phrase utilizes the Hebrew term for Holocaust, Shoa, and implies Jews bring up the Holocaust when confronted by anything they do not like.
Arrow Cross/Cross Star | This symbol was used during World War II by a Hungarian fascist political party, and is now used by a number of white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups.
Aryan Circle | This gesture is made by placing the hand palm down against the chest with the pointer finger bent in. This leaves the thumb signifying number 1 (1=A) and the middle, ring and little finger as the number 3 (3=C). Together this represents AC or the Aryan circle, one of the largest white supremacist prison gangs in the United States. Another way of making this gesture is holding up the palm flat against the chest with the ring finger bent, also representing the 1 and 3 or A and C.
Atomwaffen Division | Atomwaffen is the German word for atomic weapons and represents a neo-Nazi group that was created in 2016. The group’s logo includes a radiation warning symbol.
Blut und Ehre | This is a German phrase that translates to “blood and honor.” This phrase was used by the Nazi Party during World War II as a Hitler Youth Slogan. It has been adopted by many white supremacist groups.
Bowl Cut | The bowl cut concept indicates loyalty to Dylann Roof, the Charleston, SC shooter.
Burning Cross | Burning crosses have often been used as a symbol of terror by the Ku Klux Klan.
Confederate Flag | As with the iron cross, the confederate flag should be assessed contextually, as it is used by many to represent southern pride or references to the civil war confederacy. Notwithstanding, the flag carries with it powerful negative and racist connotations.
Day of the Rope | This phrase comes from the racist book, The Turner Diaries, written by neo-Nazi William Pierce. See noose above. The hangman’s noose was used during the Jan 6th, 2021, attacks on the United States Capitol alongside other white supremacist imagery.
Double Sieg/SS/Lightning Bolts | Sieg translates into “victory” and became a symbol for Hitler’s elite soldiers, the Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS), Hitler’s protection squad that included Gestapo agents, Waffen SS soldiers, and concentration camp guards.
FGRN | This phrase meaning “for God, race, and a nation” is commonly used by the Ku Klux Klan.
Fourteen Words | Near the end of the 88 precepts is the fourteen-word phrase “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children." This phrase has become a popular white supremacist slogan and has been adopted by several who committed violence including as the Tree of Life shooter in Pittsburgh and the Christchurch shooter.
GTKRWN | Antisemitic white supremacists use this term to signify “gas the kikes, race war now.”
Generation Identity (GI) | This concept highlights one example of an attempt to mask the growing movement of a nationalistic, isolationist white agenda. GI refers to a quest to preserve the white race from the impact of mass migration.
Great Replacement Theory | This concept or philosophy arose from Renaud Camus’ book of the same title. The notion is that white supremacists must take action to protect their nations or they will soon be overtaken by immigrants or those from other races or cultures.
H8 | Hate. This is a leetspeak version of the word hate. Leetspeak originated from the punk and/or computer hacking/gaming subculture. This occurs when a letter of the alphabet is used in place of a number and/or when a number is pronounced phonetically to make a word. One of the most popular examples of leetspeak is 1337, as the 1 resembles an L, the 33’s resemble EE, and the 7 a T (spelling LEET).
Hitler Salute | This movement consists of a raised, outstretched right arm with the palm facing down. In Nazi Germany, this gesture was often accompanied by the phrase “Sieg Heil” or “Heil Hitler.”
III | The Roman numeral III when displayed on a flag represents the “Three Percenters.” The Three Percenters are part of the United States militia movement. The phrase signifies their belief that only 3% of those who fought the British in the Revolutionary War were Americans.
Iron Cross | This is a famous German military medal that should be assessed contextually, as it is used in many non-racist situations. The iron cross has become a common white supremacist symbol.
Kek | Kek has become a way white supremacists determine if someone with whom they are interacting understands their lingo. Kek is the god in a semi-ironic religion created by white nationalists. Kek, whether written or spoken, indicates their loyalty to this all-powerful fictional god.
Kekistani Flag | The Kekistani flag is a symbol of the fictional nation of Kekistani (Neiwert, 2017). The flag resembles the Nazi flag, but the Swastika is replaced by the letter, K and the red that symbolized Germany is replaced by frog green. Kekistan is a fictional location that is said to be the birthplace of Kek, the all-powerful god currently depicted by Pepe the Frog.
Ku Klux Klan Robes | Perhaps the most recognizable symbol of the white supremacist movement, the hooded Klansman with their burning cross is among the most hate-filled, horrific symbols of the white supremacist movement. While not believed to have national organization any longer, each Klan has different meanings regarding the colors and stripes on the robes.
Noose | A symbol of lynching and terror, the noose is a powerful image used to intimidate or harass African Americans. It also refences to The Turner Diaries, a 1978 novel revolving around a violent uprising against the federal government that led to an eventual race war. In the novel, the “day of the rope” is when race traitors were publicly hanged in the streets of Los Angeles. The book was an inspiration behind the Oklahoma City bombings.
OFOF | This phrase stands for “one front, one family” and is the slogan for the white supremacist group Volksfront.
OK hand gesture | A hand gesture that mimics the common circle with the pointer finger and the thumb with the remaining three fingers up. The three fingers represent a W and the finger and thumb represent a P for white power. The gesture was originally used by those on the political right to troll (i.e., the process of intentionally trying to instigate conflict or arguments, often in an online environment) liberals. It is important to judge this symbol carefully and within the context of where, when, and how it was made, as it a common gesture well beyond white supremacist circles.
Pepe the Frog | Pepe is an internet image (or meme) used in several contexts usually related to trolling. It is used frequently on alt-right websites as a symbol of hate (ADL, 2021a; Gomez, 2016). According to the ADL, Pepe the Frog is the embodiment of “Kek,” a chaotic, god-like deity who has granted power to white supremacists and Donald Trump alike. It isn’t uncommon to see Pepe the Frog with a Donald Trump hairdo.
Pitbull | These dogs are a favorite among white supremacists as they are often viewed as being vicious, strong, and aggressive fighters. For those who have owned or spent time with pitbulls, they understand the dogs, like any dogs, reflect how they are raised and handled. Nonetheless, the image of the pitbull has been taken by white supremacists as a symbol of their movement.
QAnon Snake | White supremacists typically use a twisted serpent, often in red, white, and blue, shaped like an uppercase Q to signify loyalty to “Q,” an anonymous figure who has led thousands to believe that wealthy democrats worship Satan and kidnap and kill innocent children in effort to remain immortal, as part of the QAnon conspiracy.
RAHOWA | When the letters are separated into RA-HO-WA the phrase can be more easily understood as abbreviation for the phrase “racial holy war.” The term was originally created and used by the Creativity Movement as an inspirational call to action.
Red, White, and Blue Lion | The tri-colored lion is often found on flags as a symbol of the VDAR website known for its xenophobia and racist philosophy.
Sieg | The ancient rune of the sun, the Sowilo rune was converted into an Armanen rune, which was then doubled for the SS/Lightning bolts and called sieg, which is German for victory.
Sieg Heil | This German phrase means “hail victory” and was used by the Nazi Party. It is often paired with the Hitler salute and is one of the most widely used and recognizable phrases used to signify connection to the white supremacist movement.
Soup Bois | Soup Bois is a phrase used by those with the Boogaloo philosophy. It is code for law enforcement who are hated and frequently targeted by Boogaloos.
Specialty Soup Bois | Specialty Soup Bois is an elaboration upon Soup Bois. “Specialty” has been added as an identifier of Federal officers. The logic of the term rests in the various letters used by federal agencies: CIA, FBI, ATF, DHS, which Boogaloos view as a type of alphabet soup; hence, the term specialty soup.
Swastika | Originally, a symbol of divinity and spirituality in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, it was co-opted by the Nazi Party in Germany. It has since become the single most recognizable and prominent hate symbol in Western culture.
Three Percenters | The Three Percenters are part of the United States militia movement. The phrase signifies their belief that only 3% of those who fought the British in the Revolutionary War were Americans.
Torches and Fire | Fire was often used in Nazi Party Rallies during World War II. Torchlight parades occurred on January 30th, 1933, as Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany. Further, in the 1934 Nazi Party Rally in Nuremberg, the torchbearers formed a massive human swastika. Torches were used as a central messaging device during the rally in Charlottesville, VA in August 2017.
Tyr Rune | The tyr rune (whose Proto-Germanic name is tiwaz) is an upward facing arrow recently seen on members of Junge Revolution and Junge Tat, German and English hate groups. The symbol represents war and taking action and has historically been worn by the Hitler Youth and Sturmabteilung groups.
Valknot | This is a Nordic symbol consisting of three interlocking triangles. The valknot does not have white supremacist roots but has been used by white supremacists as is evident by its presence in the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
White Power | This guesture is made by holding up three fingers on the right hand, which creates a “W,” and joining the index finger and thumb on the left hand to create a “P.”
Work Brings Freedom | This phrase is the English translation of a phrase that was posted outside of the Auschwitz concentration camp.
1776 | 1776 and the American Revolution serve as a symbol of future revolution in protest of Donald Trump’s failed re-election and other events warranting an uprising.
18 | Adolf Hitler. The simplest of alphanumeric codes involves swapping the letters of the alphabet for corresponding numbers. So, a=1, b=2, c=3 and so on. The use of the number 18 symbolizes the A in Adolf (a=1) and the H in Hitler (h=8)
28 | Blood and Honor. The use of the number 28 symbolizes the B in blood (b=2) and the H in honor (h=8). Blood and Honor was the motto of the Hitler Youth.
4/20 | This is Adolf Hilter’s birthday.
5 Words | “I have nothing to say” is the advice white supremacists suggest using when responding to questions by law enforcement.
88 | Heil Hitler. The use of the number 88 symbolizes the H in Heil (a=8) and the H in Hitler (h=8).
ACAB | This is an acronym that stands for “all cops are bastards” and is commonly used by racist skinheads.
AKIA | This klansmen declaration signifies “a Klansman I am.”
AMOG | "Alpha male of the group."
AYAK | This is a Ku Klux Klan phrase for “are you a Klansman?”
Affective Violence | Affective violence is the result of a progressive, biologically driven path towards physical violence. It is poorly planned and a reaction to environmental stressors. Affective violence is based upon the primal instinct of fight or flight, fueled by adrenaline, and characterized by someone losing control and ultimately attacking a victim.
Alpha Male | A bold, confident leader, opposite of a Beta.
Anudda Shoah | This is an antisemitic phrase used to troll and trigger Jews. The phrase utilizes the Hebrew term for Holocaust, Shoa, and implies Jews bring up the Holocaust when confronted by anything they do not like.
Arrow Cross/Cross Star | This symbol was used during World War II by a Hungarian fascist political party, and is now used by a number of white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups.
Aryan Circle | This gesture is made by placing the hand palm down against the chest with the pointer finger bent in. This leaves the thumb signifying number 1 (1=A) and the middle, ring and little finger as the number 3 (3=C). Together this represents AC or the Aryan circle, one of the largest white supremacist prison gangs in the United States. Another way of making this gesture is holding up the palm flat against the chest with the ring finger bent, also representing the 1 and 3 or A and C.
Atomwaffen Division | Atomwaffen is the German word for atomic weapons and represents a neo-Nazi group that was created in 2016. The group’s logo includes a radiation warning symbol.
Becky | An average young woman, subordinate to a Stacy in looks and status.
Beta Male | A weak man; the opposite of an alpha.
Betabux | A romantic relationship in which the man provides financially for his partner; often used to imply that the woman is only with him for his money.
Bias | Bias is our tendency to see the world from our particular lens of experience. It can lead us to ignore the evidence or make assumptions not based on evidence. It can impact what we remember and what witnesses remember. It can create blinders for BIT team members and impact their ability to build rapport, connect, and create safe/neutral spaces. While we can never remove bias, we can train to make us more aware of how bias can affect decision making.
Big Black Cock Theory (BBC) | The theory that black men are inherently more virile and sexually appealing, making them able to “dickmog” (see mogging) other races.
Blackpill | The belief that genetics predetermine one’s status and desirability; women are only attracted to those with superior genes.
Bluepill | A term taken from the Matrix movies that generally means to ignore reality; in this context it is the belief that relationships are formed based on compatibility and kindness and respect toward women.
Blut und Ehre | This is a German phrase that translates to “blood and honor.” This phrase was used by the Nazi Party during World War II as a Hitler Youth Slogan. It has been adopted by many white supremacist groups.
Bowl Cut | The bowl cut concept indicates loyalty to Dylann Roof, the Charleston, SC shooter.
Burning Cross | Burning crosses have often been used as a symbol of terror by the Ku Klux Klan.
Catalyst Event | These negative events occur and act like the catalyst in a chemical reaction, speeding up the escalation, like the loss of a job, relationship, or finances can act to further an attack plan.
-Cel | This suffix can be used to define one’s subset within the incel community based on physical features, interests, race, or defining traits (e.g., a gingercel is an incel who has red hair).
Chad | An ideal male specimen; Chads can attract nearly all women easily; ethnic counterparts are Tyrone (black), Chaddam (Arab), Chadpreet (Indian), Chang (East Asian).
Chadfish | Pretending to be an attractive man in your photos when you are not one.
Confederate Flag | As with the iron cross, the confederate flag should be assessed contextually, as it is used by many to represent southern pride or references to the civil war confederacy. Notwithstanding, the flag carries with it powerful negative and racist connotations.
Cope | Adopting a false but comforting belief to avoid the hash truth; often used by trolls to mock everyday activities.
Costuming | As an attacker prepares, they often find clothing, tactical gear, and accessories they will need during the attack. This may start with an affiliation to a group like the Proud boys or Attomwaffen and eventually involves purchasing ballistic plates, knee and elbow pads, harnesses, and/or ammunition containers. In some attacks, they have taken on the appearance of figures such as the Dark Knight, Joker, and characters from The Matrix.
Cuck | Short for cuckold, this is a man with an unfaithful wife/girlfriend; also used for men who are considered weak or servile and often used as a derogatory term for men with moderate or progressive views.
Day of Retribution | Idealized day in which incels will strike back against Chads and women; also referred to as “Beta Uprising” or “Incel Rebellion.”
Day of the Rope | This phrase comes from the racist book, The Turner Diaries, written by neo-Nazi William Pierce. See noose above. The hangman’s noose was used during the Jan 6th, 2021, attacks on the United States Capitol alongside other white supremacist imagery.
Double Sieg/SS/Lightning Bolts | Sieg translates into “victory” and became a symbol for Hitler’s elite soldiers, the Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS), Hitler’s protection squad that included Gestapo agents, Waffen SS soldiers, and concentration camp guards.
FGRN | This phrase meaning “for God, race, and a nation” is commonly used by the Ku Klux Klan.
FOOS | “Fall on one’s sword.”
Femoid/Foid | Demeaning term referring to women as less than human.
Fourteen Words | Near the end of the 88 precepts is the fourteen-word phrase “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children." This phrase has become a popular white supremacist slogan and has been adopted by several who committed violence including as the Tree of Life shooter in Pittsburgh and the Christchurch shooter.
Free Fall | Free fall describes a more general set of problems like failing supports, mental illness flair ups and a general sense of hopelessness. The free fall becomes more concerning as multiple, chronic problems intersect, eventually creating an inability to function and a lack of hope that things will improve.
GTKRWN | Antisemitic white supremacists use this term to signify “gas the kikes, race war now.”
Generation Identity (GI) | This concept highlights one example of an attempt to mask the growing movement of a nationalistic, isolationist white agenda. GI refers to a quest to preserve the white race from the impact of mass migration.
Go ER/ER/Go Rodger | To go on a killing spree, like Elliot Rodger; the letters E and R are sometimes capitalized in unrelated words (i.e. sEcuRity).
Great Replacement Theory | This concept or philosophy arose from Renaud Camus’ book of the same title. The notion is that white supremacists must take action to protect their nations or they will soon be overtaken by immigrants or those from other races or cultures.
H8 | Hate. This is a leetspeak version of the word hate. Leetspeak originated from the punk and/or computer hacking/gaming subculture. This occurs when a letter of the alphabet is used in place of a number and/or when a number is pronounced phonetically to make a word. One of the most popular examples of leetspeak is 1337, as the 1 resembles an L, the 33’s resemble EE, and the 7 a T (spelling LEET).
Heightpill | A subset of blackpill, which suggests women are primarily drawn to tall men.
Hitler Salute | This movement consists of a raised, outstretched right arm with the palm facing down. In Nazi Germany, this gesture was often accompanied by the phrase “Sieg Heil” or “Heil Hitler.”
III | The Roman numeral III when displayed on a flag represents the “Three Percenters.” The Three Percenters are part of the United States militia movement. The phrase signifies their belief that only 3% of those who fought the British in the Revolutionary War were Americans.
Incel | This term stands for “involuntary celibate” and represents a range of thinking and behaviors from social awkwardness and difficulty forming connections with women to hardline misogyny and active threats to punish them for rejecting the person’s attempts at dating. Common subsets include:
Baldcels: Bald or balding
Currycel: Indian
Clowncel: Identifies with and admires the Joker from Batman
Fakecel: Pretending to be incel to be edgy or to fit in
Framecel: A man with the bone structure of a young teen
Gymcel: Believes he can compensate with muscles
Heightcel/Shortcel: A short man who is an incel because of his height
Mentalcel/Medcel: Has psychological illnesses or medical issues
Workcel: Too preoccupied with work for a relationship
Iron Cross | This is a famous German military medal that should be assessed contextually, as it is used in many non-racist situations. The iron cross has become a common white supremacist symbol.
Juggernaut Law | The theory that you can’t stop a woman’s dating potential; unattractive and flawed women make men feel like they have a chance, so they will still have their pick of men.
Kek | Kek has become a way white supremacists determine if someone with whom they are interacting understands their lingo. Kek is the god in a semi-ironic religion created by white nationalists. Kek, whether written or spoken, indicates their loyalty to this all-powerful fictional god.
Kekistani Flag | The Kekistani flag is a symbol of the fictional nation of Kekistani (Neiwert, 2017). The flag resembles the Nazi flag, but the Swastika is replaced by the letter, K and the red that symbolized Germany is replaced by frog green. Kekistan is a fictional location that is said to be the birthplace of Kek, the all-powerful god currently depicted by Pepe the Frog.
Ku Klux Klan Robes | Perhaps the most recognizable symbol of the white supremacist movement, the hooded Klansman with their burning cross is among the most hate-filled, horrific symbols of the white supremacist movement. While not believed to have national organization any longer, each Klan has different meanings regarding the colors and stripes on the robes.
LDAR | “Lie down and rot.”
Leakage | This refers to sharing attack details, intentionally or unintentionally, with a third party. At first, these are vague hints at frustration, growing unhappiness and unfairness with no mention of a specific time, place, or target of an attack. Leakage increases as they vent frustrations verbally/online and demand justice. Threats then become specific and lethal with a time and location mentioned.
Legacy Token | The legacy token is a manifesto, written text, online blog, video project, piece of art, diary, or journal created prior to an attack and left for someone to find after the attack.
Lockdown/Barricade | This is used when there is an act or threat of violence on site. It is initiated in response to a stimulus such as screaming, gunshots, or a suspicious person is seen on campus. When lockdown/barricade is initiated, ensure the classroom door is locked; barricade door with furniture; move students to designated area of classroom, away from doors and windows; turn off lights/close window blinds; silence all cell phones; provide students with clear instructions; and prepare to fight back if classroom is breached. After the classroom is secured, take attendance/calm students and ensure no students to leave classroom until all clear is given.
-Maxx/-Maxxing | An attempt to improve dating chances by improving an aspect of one’s life (e.g., looksmaxx).
Mewing | An attempt to improve one’s jawline by holding the tongue hard against the roof of the mouth; created by orthodontist Mike Mew.
Microaggression | These are brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to certain individuals because of their group membership.
Microassaults: Conscious and intentional actions or slurs, such as using racial epithets, displaying swastikas or deliberately serving a white person before a person of color in a restaurant.
Microinsults: Verbal and nonverbal communications that subtly convey rudeness and insensitivity and demean a person’s racial heritage or identity. An example is an employee who asks a colleague of color how she got her job, implying she may have landed it through an affirmative action or quota system.
Microinvalidations: Communications that subtly exclude, negate or nullify the thoughts, feelings or experiential reality of a person of color. For instance, white people often ask Asian-Americans where they were born, conveying the message that they are perpetual foreigners in their own land.
Mog/Mogging | The shortened form of AMOG, to mog is to be more good-looking or superior in some way.
My Twisted World | Name of Rodgers’ manifesto, which is often seen as a basis of incel philosophy.
NEET | “Not in education, employment, or training.”
Noodlewhore | An Asian woman.
Noose | A symbol of lynching and terror, the noose is a powerful image used to intimidate or harass African Americans. It also refences to The Turner Diaries, a 1978 novel revolving around a violent uprising against the federal government that led to an eventual race war. In the novel, the “day of the rope” is when race traitors were publicly hanged in the streets of Los Angeles. The book was an inspiration behind the Oklahoma City bombings.
Normie | An average boring person, someone who is average in looks, between a Chad and an incel.
OFOF | This phrase stands for “one front, one family” and is the slogan for the white supremacist group Volksfront.
OK hand gesture | A hand gesture that mimics the common circle with the pointer finger and the thumb with the remaining three fingers up. The three fingers represent a W and the finger and thumb represent a P for white power. The gesture was originally used by those on the political right to troll (i.e., the process of intentionally trying to instigate conflict or arguments, often in an online environment) liberals. It is important to judge this symbol carefully and within the context of where, when, and how it was made, as it a common gesture well beyond white supremacist circles.
Objectification | There is a depersonalization regarding how others are seen with an increasing tendency to see them as “less than” or unworthy of basic consideration. This manifests in name calling and the use of racist, misogynistic or bigoted language. As objectification escalates, there are increased work, school, and home conflicts, with threats and negative actions. They eventually see their target as undeserving of any consideration and simply as an object in the way of their goal.
PSL | An acronym for the forums ”PUAhate.com/Sluthate/Lookism.net.”
Pepe the Frog | Pepe is an internet image (or meme) used in several contexts usually related to trolling. It is used frequently on alt-right websites as a symbol of hate (ADL, 2021a; Gomez, 2016). According to the ADL, Pepe the Frog is the embodiment of “Kek,” a chaotic, god-like deity who has granted power to white supremacists and Donald Trump alike. It isn’t uncommon to see Pepe the Frog with a Donald Trump hairdo.
Pitbull | These dogs are a favorite among white supremacists as they are often viewed as being vicious, strong, and aggressive fighters. For those who have owned or spent time with pitbulls, they understand the dogs, like any dogs, reflect how they are raised and handled. Nonetheless, the image of the pitbull has been taken by white supremacists as a symbol of their movement.
Predatory Violence | Predatory violence is described as an intent-driven, planned attack. This aggression occurs when a subject becomes isolated, disconnected, lacks trust, and often feels threatened and frustrated by a perceived attack.
Protective Factors | Protective factors add stability and support to an individual’s experience and create a defense against elements that may incite or motivate violence. When conducting a threat assessment, it is essential to balance risk factors against the protective factors that exist for an individual.
Individual Protective Factors—Individual attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors
Relationship Protective Factors—Social groups, peers, and family behaviors and influences
Community Protective Factors—Characteristics and conditions of physical and social environment
Societal—Social and cultural norms
Pump and Dump | Having sex with a woman who is looking for a relationship with no intention of pursuing a relationship.
QAnon Snake | White supremacists typically use a twisted serpent, often in red, white, and blue, shaped like an uppercase Q to signify loyalty to “Q,” an anonymous figure who has led thousands to believe that wealthy democrats worship Satan and kidnap and kill innocent children in effort to remain immortal, as part of the QAnon conspiracy.
RAHOWA | When the letters are separated into RA-HO-WA the phrase can be more easily understood as abbreviation for the phrase “racial holy war.” The term was originally created and used by the Creativity Movement as an inspirational call to action.
RGIF | “Raping girls is fun.”
Rally Point | The initial location students are moved to near campus during an evacuation, at minimum 300 feet from the school. Be prepared to change locations if necessary.
Red, White, and Blue Lion | The tri-colored lion is often found on flags as a symbol of the VDAR website known for its xenophobia and racist philosophy.
Redpill | In the Matrix movies, the redpill wakes one up to the truth of reality; in incel circles, it is the belief that all women are attracted to the most alpha man and that one can compensate for poor genes by working out or gaining wealth or status.
Risk Factors | Risk factors identify the personality traits, behavioral indicators, social and peer interactions, environmental stressors, threats, acquisition of or access to lethal means, and other contextual clues that have been noted in those who move forward with a targeted attack plan.
A key aspect of understanding risk factors is the importance of seeing these in combination, like puzzle pieces coming together to create a larger meaning. As with a puzzle, one piece alone is not particularly useful. It’s when these pieces combine that the factors begin to be more useful in understanding risk.
Rope/Roping | To commit suicide.
Ropefuel/Suifuel | Suicide fuel; something deeply depressing that drives self-hate (e.g., an attractive woman in a relationship with someone you consider less attractive than yourself).
Saint Alek | Alek Minassian, the Toronto van attacker.
Saint Elliot | Elliot Rodger, the Isla Vista Killer.
Saint Yogacel | Scott Beierle, the Tallahasee yoga studio killer.
Secure School | This is used when there is an act of threat of violence near your site. When secure school is initiated, ensure classroom door is locked; close blinds; inform students of the possible danger; listen for further instructions; and continue class instruction. Once the classroom is secured, take attendance/calm students and ensure that no students leave classroom unless escorted by adult.
Shelter in Place | This is used during severe weather or a hazmat event. During a severe weather event, move away from the windows and stat indoors. During a hazmat event, seal the room, turn off the HVAC system and close doors and windows.
Sieg | The ancient rune of the sun, the Sowilo rune was converted into an Armanen rune, which was then doubled for the SS/Lightning bolts and called sieg, which is German for victory.
Sieg Heil | This German phrase means “hail victory” and was used by the Nazi Party. It is often paired with the Hitler salute and is one of the most widely used and recognizable phrases used to signify connection to the white supremacist movement.
Silo(ing) | Siloing occurs when departments or individuals hold onto information in isolation, without working collaboratively. These isolated communications occur when each department focuses on their own individual mission, policy, and rules without seeing themselves as part of a larger, more complex system. Communications that focus primarily on a single department to the detriment of seeing threat assessment and behavioral intervention as larger, community-based approaches are said to be operating in a “silo.” Much like the tall grain silos that are spotted throughout the Midwest, they are single structures serving their function, separated from the larger overall system.
Soup Bois | Soup Bois is a phrase used by those with the Boogaloo philosophy. It is code for law enforcement who are hated and frequently targeted by Boogaloos.
Soyboy | An effeminate, feminist or non-fighting man, with low athleticism; incels believe soy lowers testosterone.
Specialty Soup Bois | Specialty Soup Bois is an elaboration upon Soup Bois. “Specialty” has been added as an identifier of Federal officers. The logic of the term rests in the various letters used by federal agencies: CIA, FBI, ATF, DHS, which Boogaloos view as a type of alphabet soup; hence, the term specialty soup.
Stacy | The female counterpoint to a Chad; the ideal woman who is out of reach for any non-Chad man.
Substantive Threat | Substantive threats are more lasting and intentional, reaching beyond the current incident. In comparison to transient threats, substantive threats are 36 times more likely to be carried out.
Supreme Gentleman | How Elliot Rodger referred to himself; women are attracted to Chads even though incels are “Supreme Gentlemen.”
Swastika | Originally, a symbol of divinity and spirituality in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, it was co-opted by the Nazi Party in Germany. It has since become the single most recognizable and prominent hate symbol in Western culture.
Thot | A woman who has many casual sexual encounters.
Three Percenters | The Three Percenters are part of the United States militia movement. The phrase signifies their belief that only 3% of those who fought the British in the Revolutionary War were Americans.
Torches and Fire | Fire was often used in Nazi Party Rallies during World War II. Torchlight parades occurred on January 30th, 1933, as Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany. Further, in the 1934 Nazi Party Rally in Nuremberg, the torchbearers formed a massive human swastika. Torches were used as a central messaging device during the rally in Charlottesville, VA in August 2017.
Transient Threat | Transient threats are typically made in reaction to an intense, emotional, and passionate conflict. They are often made to protect reputation or “save face” and rarely have lethality or a high likelihood of follow up or action.
Tyr Rune | The tyr rune (whose Proto-Germanic name is tiwaz) is an upward facing arrow recently seen on members of Junge Revolution and Junge Tat, German and English hate groups. The symbol represents war and taking action and has historically been worn by the Hitler Youth and Sturmabteilung groups.
Valknot | This is a Nordic symbol consisting of three interlocking triangles. The valknot does not have white supremacist roots but has been used by white supremacists as is evident by its presence in the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
The Wall/Agepill/Milkmired | The inevitability of age making men and women less fertile and attractive.
White Power | This guesture is made by holding up three fingers on the right hand, which creates a “W,” and joining the index finger and thumb on the left hand to create a “P.”
Work Brings Freedom | This phrase is the English translation of a phrase that was posted outside of the Auschwitz concentration camp.
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