You are reading The Mandate / Hot takes on topics that men don’t like to talk about / Written by LA-Based Writer, Cultural Strategist, and Olympic Medalist Jason Rogers
I thought we’d try out a new recurring series. The internet is littered with mysterious terminology, many about men. (Termenology?). It’s nearly impossible to keep up, so I’ll be digging into various words and phrases you might come across in your internet life.
Today, we’re looking at the word: SIMP.
The word "simp" is a slang pejorative most often used to describe a man who appears overly attentive, fawning, or subservient to a woman. Usually, behavior or disposition is geared toward gaining their romantic or sexual interest. This behavior is often considered unattractive, pathetic, or desperate by those who use the term.
However, the term can also be used more broadly to describe someone excessively devoted or loyal to a particular person or group, often to their detriment. This can include going to great lengths to please or impress others, sacrificing their own interests and values to fit in or gain acceptance, or tolerating mistreatment and abuse from others.
So in that regard, women can also be tagged with the label. See the below video at 6:40.
In some cases, "simp" may be used more playful or lightheartedly among friends or online communities to tease or rib someone acting in an overly affectionate or devoted manner. However, it is often used maliciously or insultingly to belittle or shame someone for their perceived lack of confidence, assertiveness, or independence.
It’s worth noting that, despite the negative connotation, some internet creators have sought to reclaim the word. That is, they wear it as an ironic badge of honor as a kind of symbolic rejection of the very type of masculinity that would hurl such insults in the first place. Here’s one example of its usage being flipped around.
Another I particularly like is the song “Simp” by Col3trane, which includes a chorus with the lyrics “I want you all to myself.” The implication is that his devotion to his partner is so intense that he’s become what other people might call a “simp,” but he just doesn’t care.
According to the NY Times, the term may originate in the mid-80s, when the rapper Too Short began including it in his lyrics. In that piece, the artist said, “To me, it’s like the opposite of the pimp.” However, since it’s made its way into the manosphere (a topic I’ll return to at length in the future) and is now ubiquitous in modern internet culture.
Its recent resurgence is thanks to TikTok, where creators like @poloboy whipped up more energy around the term in cheeky videos that often end with the caption “Welcome to Simp Nation.” Videos with #simp have been viewed more than 25 billion times.
Note: this post includes elements created by OpenAI tools