Behind the Bastards

Part Two: From Elliott Rodger to Clavicular – The Story of Incel Evolution

Host: Robert Evans (Cool Zone Media)
Guest: Kat Abuguzela
Date: March 12, 2026
Main Theme: A deep-dive into the history and cultural evolution of the incel (involuntarily celibate) movement, from the early 2000s through mass shootings, the spread of “black pill” ideology, meme culture, banning efforts, and up to the viral phenomenon of looksmaxing and figures like Clavicular.

Episode Overview

This episode examines the trajectory of the incel subculture, starting with obscure online forums and a string of misogynistic mass killings, then tracing how incel ideology and lingo mutated and spread throughout internet culture. Hosts Robert Evans and Kat Abuguzela dissect the psychological, technological, and societal forces that drove incel ideas into the mainstream, culminating in the popularization of "looksmaxing" and the rise of viral personalities like Clavicular.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Incels, Media Fame, and the Roots of Violence

[05:42–11:37]

• The incel phenomenon didn’t start with Elliot Rodger. In 2009, the shooting by George Sodini (in Pittsburgh, not NYC) became a reference point for the community ("going Sodini" was forum slang before “going ER” for Elliot Rodger).
• Mass shooters like Sodini channeled grievances around sexual rejection, misogyny, and sometimes racist conspiracy.
• Stalking and violence against women are recurring themes linked to these crimes, with legal systems lagging far behind in protecting targets. Kat discusses her own experience as a public female researcher facing threats and online abuse.
• Notable quote:

  "Men are afraid of being mocked. Women are afraid of being murdered." — Kat Abuguzela [12:39]

2. Elliot Rodger and the Black Pill

[13:53–15:41]

• The 2014 Isla Vista killings by Elliot Rodger were a watershed, introducing “incel” to the wider public. Pre-Rodger, only a very online minority knew the term.
• Rodger’s 141-page manifesto was foundational to the subculture, laying out its black pill ideology:

  "All of my suffering on this world has been at the hands of humanity, particularly women... all because the females of the human species were incapable of seeing the value in me." — Elliot Rodger, quoted by Robert [15:20]

• Rodger was actually privileged—his good looks, money, and family status defied the typical "basement dwelling nerd" stereotype. His failure was rooted in a toxic entitlement and refusal to self-reflect, emphasizing that incels are defined by ideology, not circumstance.
• Kat and Robert reflect on the failure of society—especially men—to teach accountability and emotional growth, and how this vacuum is filled by blame-based extremist subcultures.

3. "Cult" Language, Meme Culture, and Mainstreaming

[37:47–45:14]

• Core incel terms explained:
  • “Mogging” (to dominate or outclass another, e.g. physically)
  • “Maxing”: trying to increase “sexual market value” (e.g., “gymmaxing,” “surgerymaxing,” “looksmaxing”)
  • “-cell” word endings (e.g., “volcel,” “truesel”)
  • “Chad” vs “Beta” memes (now widely seen far outside incel spaces)
• These originated as cult-like insider jargon but, thanks to platforms like 4chan, Reddit, and TikTok, have “broken containment” and heavily shaped internet meme culture.
• Notable contemporary examples include TikTokers ironically calling themselves “walk-pilled cardio maxers in a car-cucked state like Arizona.”
• Robert notes:

  "What's confounding and novel is how successful incel terms and memes have been at spreading in normie culture." [45:05]

• Linguist Adam Alexik’s book Algospeak is cited for documenting how incel terminology spread across platforms, particularly after repeated subreddit bans (the “toothpaste tube effect”—crackdowns make the community more insular and harder to reach, not less).

4. The Toothpaste Tube Effect, Algorithmic Influence, and "Rate Me" Culture

[45:14–54:12]

• As platforms like Reddit and Tumblr ban incel (or other toxic) communities, the language and culture just mutate and squeeze into new corners of the internet—harder to monitor, more extreme.

  Toothpaste tube effect: "Attempts to crack down on digital subcultures just turns those subcultures more extreme and makes them more resilient to positive intervention." — Robert [46:28]

• Incels migrated from forums to 4chan, then Reddit (e.g., /r/incels, then /r/braincels), then into less-moderated rate me/photo evaluation spaces, embedding lookism and pseudoscientific “beauty standards” into wider youth culture.
• Practices like “mewing” (jaw posture to supposedly improve bone structure) were picked up and used in both serious and satirical ways by influencers of all genders.

5. The Rise and Spread of Looksmaxing and Figure of Clavicular

[58:43–67:29]

• Looksmaxing concepts, once incel-only, spread to mainstream beauty and influencer communities, often ironically but also in earnest. While the terminology originates with incels, most of its users do not know or care about the roots.
• Incel communities turn even more toxic, shifting toward the “black pill”—belief that self-improvement is hopeless and appearance is everything.
• The “Oxford Study” meme condemned Asian women for dating white men, a fake academic myth that spread virally as part of incel/MRA culture.
• Clavicular (real name Braden Peters), becomes viral by sellling “maxing” routines, sharing drug-fueled, extreme methods for facial/body change, and monetizing male insecurity.

  "[Clavicular is] the prime example of monetizing insecurity by selling routines and advice such as the 'Clavicular System', while reinforcing the incel belief of worth being fixed by facial structure." — Robert, quoting the Loyola Phoenix [65:07]

• The cycle has come full circle:

  "You go from incels start because a bunch of guys get pissed off that pickup artistry doesn't work to incel ideology is now being used to sell what is effectively the next generation of pickup artistry." — Robert [67:07]

6. Bone Smashing and the Dangers of Pseudoscience

[67:29–70:01]

• “Bone smashing”—the practice of hitting one’s own face to supposedly grow larger jawbones—is the darkest, most bizarre lookism trend, based on a misapplication of real science about bone density.
• Robert cites orthopedic literature and warns against these TikTok and forum trends, noting a lack of evidence for efficacy in humans and pointing to real risks (injuries, tooth loss, TBI).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Men are afraid of being mocked. Women are afraid of being murdered." — Kat Abuguzela [12:39]
• "All of my suffering on this world has been at the hands of humanity, particularly women..." — Elliot Rodger, quoted by Robert [15:20]
• "You want women to do X, Y, and Z...every single part of incel ideology puts the onus on the woman...with absolutely zero responsibility for yourself." — Kat Abuguzela [19:49]
• "Toothpaste tube effect: Attempts to crack down on digital subcultures just turns those subcultures more extreme and makes them more resilient to positive intervention." — Robert [46:28]
• "What's confounding and novel is how successful incel terms and memes have been at spreading in normie culture." — Robert [45:05]
• "[Clavicular is] the prime example of monetizing insecurity by selling routines and advice..." — Robert, quoting Loyola Phoenix [65:07]

Timeline / Key Timestamps

• [05:42] – The 2009 Sodini shooting and early incel violence
• [13:53] – Elliot Rodger and the cultural impact of the Isla Vista massacre
• [18:53] – Analysis of Rodger’s entitlement, ideology, and its spread
• [37:47] – Incel jargon enters meme culture
• [45:14] – Mainstream adoption of incel terms and memes
• [46:28] – Toothpaste tube effect and the pitfalls of online bans
• [52:01] – The rise and fall of r/incels and r/braincels
• [54:12] – “Mewing” and Rate Me subreddits spread lookism
• [58:43] – Looksmaxing language enters TikTok and influencer spheres
• [62:27] – The “Oxford Study” fake meme and MRA/in­cel disinfo
• [64:02] – Clavicular’s viral “frame mogging” ASU incident
• [67:29] – “Bone smashing” and the rise of dangerous DIY looksmaxing
• [70:01] – Hosts' humorous closing debate about rats, memes, and campaign plugs

Tone & Style

The discussion balances dark, sometimes harrowing analysis of misogyny and violence with the podcast’s trademark gallows humor and sharp cultural critique. Robert and Kat keep the mood brisk and often darkly funny, especially when lampooning the absurdity of incel lingo or internet evolutions.

Summary for Listeners

This episode is a comprehensive, unflinching look at the progression of the incel movement from online obscurity and acts of violence to a surprising level of influence on mainstream online culture and language. It breaks down how mass media attention, algorithm-driven communities, and meme culture helped incubate and spread incel jargon into norms—culminating in dangerous trends like bone smashing and new grifter figures cynically profiting from male loneliness and insecurity. The hosts emphasize the continued danger presented by these toxic communities and the shortcomings of policing, tech platforms, and cultural education in combating misogynistic and self-destructive online ideologies.

For further reading/viewing:

• Adam Alexik’s Algospeak (2025) — on internet slang, algorithmic censorship, and the spread of subcultural language
• Slate and Guardian articles cited in-episode
• Loyola Phoenix investigation on Clavicular