• Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    1 year ago

    Wearing horns is a traditional symbolic representation of being cuckolded in since European countries, and in some languages the word for cuckold literally translates as ‘horned’ or variations on it. Even the horn sign associated with heavy metal can be very insulting.

    If it’s an incel insult, it’s a historically accurate one.

    • holmesandhoatzin@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      That’s fascinating. I know about the English etymology, which comes from “cuckoo” because a number of species are nest parasites. Do you have any sources? I love etymological history.

      • Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 year ago

        In English it does come from cuckoos, but in Spanish for example it’s ‘cornudo’ (horned). Despite the etymological root in English, the symbolism of cuckoldry was still historically horns. This page has a lot of great examples from England of the association of horns with cuckoldry.

    • boogetyboo@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      Cool etymology explanation. It’s a pretty well known one, but extra points for being deliberately obtuse.

      It’s a sad incel insult because they equate a man’s worth to the ownership of a woman for the purpose of sex, and the loss of it to another man as a loss of their ‘manhood’.

      The moment you call someone a cuck or cuckhold, you’re telling the world exactly how reductive and sad your view of the world and the people in it is.

      • Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 year ago

        I was being genuine and assuming you didn’t know the symbological meaning, because frankly I don’t think it is that common to know unless you either come from a culture where that’s prevalent or are interested in history. 🤷‍♂️ I’m pretty sure the Q Shaman guy didn’t put that outfit together thinking about the cuckold symbolism.

        Acknowledging that the alt right is obsessed with cuckoldry while being ignorant of its symbolism isn’t the same as buying into it.

        Go have this argument with someone who actually buys into this stuff instead of someone who is just trying to be informative online. If that pisses you off then block me because the type of autism I have doesn’t come with an off switch for dropping random info.