I have read people write and heard people say words like “jobmaxing”, “hobbymaxing” and stuff like that. I guess I understand what these words mean, but I am confused as to where the “…maxing” thing comes from.

I had totally normal people talk to me like this, but I also somehow connect it to Andrew Tate and people like that. Is using these words - to you - a telltale sign of a guy who has issues with women? Or is it something you also would say in a normal conversation (assuming you treat women with respect)?

And does anyone know where these terms originated from?

  • Lojcs@lemm.ee
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    3 months ago

    4chan, and it’s maxxing. It’s used used for ‘productive’ things incels do (for the improvement of their life) instead of dooming over how they’re incels

    • chaos@beehaw.org
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      3 months ago

      This, and see also “minmaxing,” the process of optimizing something (usually your character in a game) to get minimum penalty and/or maximum benefit, usually ignoring anything like realism or storytelling and focusing entirely on the stats and numbers.

  • ryannathans@aussie.zone
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    3 months ago

    Originates from a greentext on 4chan where anon’s removed brother coined the term and it’s caught on since

  • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    You’ll hear it a bit if you hit the gym every day. It’s a positive thing.

    I have no idea what it means in incel-speak.

  • Fizz@lemmy.nz
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    3 months ago

    Its a term that originates from lookism communities and image boards. Looksmaxxing was people doing everything they can to improve their attractiveness. Hyper focusing on aspects of the face like jawline, skull shape and eyes trying to achieve a specific look. The term became memed by other communities as a way to say I’m hyper focused X.

  • will_a113
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    3 months ago

    Are you talking about min-maxing, or like “chillin’ out, maxin’, relaxin’ &c” ?

      • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        3 months ago

        As an avid 4chan user in 2003-2008, the highlight of one of the years of secondary school was one day when our teacher did a quiz thing that was like “who can stand up and recite the entire intro to Fresh Prince”

        that person was me. I was that person.

  • Vanth@reddthat.com
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    3 months ago

    Same, I associate it with incels. Wikipedia even tells me,

    Proponents of “looksmaxxing” refer to simple practices as “softmaxxing”, including proper hygiene, skincare, hairstyles suited to one’s face shape, exercise routines, wearing fashionable clothing

    Soooo, incels need a special term to make hygiene palatable to them. Uhuh.

    • feedum_sneedson@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Not worth criticising, it’s just confused and alienated people attempting self-improvement. That’s a positive thing.

      • Vanth@reddthat.com
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        3 months ago

        To each their own, but I think inceldom as it is, not what it was briefly when coined by a Canadian lesbian in 1997, is absolutely worth criticizing.

  • flambonkscious@sh.itjust.works
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    3 months ago

    It’s coming up in an odd way in the mountain biking community, where they talk about min-maxing.

    The idea is minimum budget, maximum effect for that expense (what’s the best I can do with the bike I’ve got, rather than going the ‘full midlife crisis’/orthodontist approach of spending $15-25k on what’s basically the latest handbag bike).