The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has a glossary of terms it associates with extremist, involuntary celibate (incels) individuals and members of religiously or ethnically motivated violent extremism (RMVE), including popular internet slang like “based” and “redpilled.”
The conservative Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project recently obtained copies of FBI training materials relating to involuntary celibate violent extremists (IVEs) and RMVEs. Among the documents the conservative think tank received was a glossary of terms the FBI lists as indicators of IVE and RMVE affiliations.
The FBI document, which references events as recently as 2019, states, “Indicators of IVE ideology may comprise constitutionally protected conduct, and no single indicator should be the sole basis for determining IVE or criminal activity. The following indicators of IVE ideology may constitute a basis for reporting or law enforcement action when observed with suspicious criminal or potentially violent activity.”
Some of the terms in the FBI documents have more overt connections with racially charged or extremist rhetoric, like “RaHoWa” as a shorthand for “racial holy war” and specific references to extremist incels, like Elliot Rodger, the one who carried out a mass killing in Isla Vista, California in 2014. The FBI glossary also includes terms associated with a variety of popular internet memes like “red pill/blue pill,” “based,” “Chad,” and “Stacy.”
‘Redpilled’ and ‘Based’
The concept of the red pill grew out of a motif in the 1999 film “The Matrix” in which the main character swallows a red pill that awakens him to the reality that the contemporary society he had been living in was a carefully constructed simulation managed by an army of machines and computers that enslaved humanity. The red pill concept continues to be popular through online memes and slang, in which the idea represents the acceptance of an uncomfortable reality with the rejection of comfortable lies or flawed narratives.
In the FBI’s definition of “red pill” in relation to IVEs, the term “refers to a belief shared by many online communities that society is corrupt, and that the believer is a victim of this corruption.” In the context of RMVE ideology, the FBI states, “taking the red pill or becoming ‘redpilled’ indicates the adoption of racist, anti-Semitic, or fascist beliefs.”
Related to the concept of the red pill is the “blue pill.” In “The Matrix,” when the main character is given a chance to take the red pill, he also has the option to take the blue pill, which allows him to ignore the possibility that reality is not what he perceives. In contrast to the “red pill,” the term “blue pill” can refer to either unintentional ignorance or a willful decision to ignore harsh reality.
Associated with the red pill and blue pill dichotomy is the “black pill,” often described as a nihilistic worldview or sense of hopelessness that societal problems cannot be solved. According to the FBI’s definition, the “black pill” term “is specific to Incels, refers to a belief that this [corruption of society] can only be changed through massive societal restructuring, often including violence.”
Among its glossary of RMVE terms, the FBI includes “based.” The FBI uses “based” to “refer to someone who has been converted to racist ideology, or as a way of indicating ideological agreement.”
In popular internet parlance, “based” can refer to individuals who are regarded as cool for their defiance of social norms or someone willing to speak a controversial truth without fear of being socially ostracized. The Rapper Lil B, who also goes by the alter ego “TheBasedGod,” said in a 2010 interview with Complex that “based means being yourself. Not being scared of what people think about you. Not being afraid to do what you wanna do. Being positive.”
The FBI document includes the terms “Chad” and “Stacey.” Aside from being a given name, Chad represents internet slang and a variety of memes that commonly depict a highly confident, physically fit, and attractive male. “Stacy” represents the female counterpart to “Chad.” According to the FBI document, “incels unsuccessfully compete against Chads for attention,” and Stacy “chooses Chad over incels.”
In 2018 self-identified incel Alek Minassian ran over 10 people with a van in Toronto, Canada. Just before the attack, Minassian posted on the internet message board 4Chan, stating, “The Incel Rebellion has already begun! We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys! All hail the Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger!”
The FBI said it “has no comment” when asked about these IVE and RMVE extremism documents.
How The FBI Watches Americans
The release of these FBI documents regarding IVEs and RMVEs comes as the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has been investigating the potential “weaponization” of the government.
Last year, Project Veritas published documents purporting to show an FBI memo on militia violent extremism (MVE). The alleged FBI document described references to the Second Amendment, the Revolutionary War, the Betsy Ross American Flag, and the “Don’t Tread on Me” Snake Gadsden Flag as potential indicators of MVE behavior. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) demanded answers from FBI Director Chris Wray about the document and raised allegations that the agency has become politicized against conservatives (pdf).
The House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, led by Jordan, published a report (pdf) last month indicating the FBI had launched 25 so-called “Guardian Assessments” related to parents protesting or voicing concerns about the activities of their local school boards. The committee report said FBI whistleblowers shared claims that “the FBI investigated a mom because she belonged to a ‘right-wing mom’s group’ and ‘is a gun owner’ and a dad because ‘he rails against the government.'”