Alpha, Beta, Omega -- why does the internet get this wrong?

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Time for a lesson in internet terminology.

Alpha = Domineering badass. Emotionally unavailable but sexually exciting. Most success derived from one-night-stands, occasionally gets into turbulent and short-lived relationships.
Beta = Simpering niceguy. Emotionally sensitive and open but sexually under-stimulating. Most commonly friendzoned and used as a dumping ground for everyone else's problems, but occasionally gets into short-lived relationship and 99% of the time drives the female in question crazy with his neediness and perceived lack of self-esteem/ambition.
Gamma = Happy medium between Alpha and Beta that plays both sides of the field whenever appropriate. Relationship material, very well-rounded.
Omega = No redeeming qualities. Avoid.

See, that's my point; it's completely wrong, from a biological standpoint. My real question is how we got from what I described to what you described.

It's part of the lexicon of certain internet subcultures and groups. I doubt biological correctness or hierarchical accuracy was considered very important when they managed to invent new definitions that deftly summarize very common themes and subjects among their social circle.

 

[rubinigosa]

Well I am around Beta because I sometimes follow others if I like their ides but at the same time I am quick to state my opinion if I disagree.But cant the misunderstanding come from games ? like they have the Beta patch but the game then is sometimes very buggy after that they do not have a Alpha patch but waits and then relishes the game...Or it could be from Alpha and Omega that you can use instead of saying god because god would be Alpha and Omega (if you believe in...I think it was Christen religion I might be wrong) and after that they just mess up Beta and Gamma or "facts" that someone has messed up because allot of static are mad up on the Internet so a mess up in the Greek alphabet is not very surprising.
(I apologizes for any misspelling)

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Well I am around Beta because I sometimes follow others if I like their ides but at the same time I am quick to state my opinion if I disagree.But cant the misunderstanding come from games ? like they have the Beta patch but the game then is sometimes very buggy after that they do not have a Alpha patch but waits and then relishes the game...Or it could be from Alpha and Omega that you can use instead of saying god because god would be Alpha and Omega (if you believe in...I think it was Christen religion I might be wrong) and after that they just mess up Beta and Gamma or "facts" that someone has messed up because allot of static are mad up on the Internet so a mess up in the Greek alphabet is not very surprising.
(I apologizes for any misspelling)

Actually, both the Christian connection and the Videogame connection have to do with the fact that these are all letters in the Greek alphabet. Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are the first three letters of that alphabet -- and you even see it in the word alphabet alpha-bet(a). This is why you hear about pre-alpha, alpha, and beta builds of a game. As for the biblical reference, the quote is "I am the alpha and the omega" which, put into modern terms, means "I am everything, from A-Z." The only connection the meanings I was using have to this is that it uses the Greek alphabet, and like the software revision example, the order of the letters is used for the order in the hierarchy.

Edit: Actually, a better interpretation of the biblical quote would be "I am the beginning and the end."

Edit Edit: Which, come to think of it, is spelled out in the full verse, which reads:

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."

Book of Revelations 21:6, KJV

The quote apparently shows up three times in Revelations, worded slightly differently each time.

 

[Zantos]

I'd imagine it's some horrendous offspring of the phrases alpha male and second rate. If someone's second rate then they'd be the second letter of the alphabet which is beta and...

Sod it, if that didn't make sense lets just go with the "It's just an expression and requires no logical justification" excuse that accounts for 90% of the stuff I say.

 

[II2]

Time for a lesson in internet terminology.

Alpha = Domineering badass. Emotionally unavailable but sexually exciting. Most success derived from one-night-stands, occasionally gets into turbulent and short-lived relationships.
Beta = Simpering niceguy. Emotionally sensitive and open but sexually under-stimulating. Most commonly friendzoned and used as a dumping ground for everyone else's problems, but occasionally gets into short-lived relationship and 99% of the time drives the female in question crazy with his neediness and perceived lack of self-esteem/ambition.
Gamma = Happy medium between Alpha and Beta that plays both sides of the field whenever appropriate. Relationship material, very well-rounded.
Omega = No redeeming qualities. Avoid.

How about Zeta males?

Seems like a logical enough breakdown. I suppose what I'd add though is that, you can choose who you are, if you're ambitious and understanding enough to change yourself. It also happens naturally; but people's body and minds are elastic.

I'd say I'm Gamma.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Beta = Simpering niceguy. Emotionally sensitive and open but sexually under-stimulating. Most commonly friendzoned and used as a dumping ground for everyone else's problems, but occasionally gets into short-lived relationship and 99% of the time drives the female in question crazy with his neediness and perceived lack of self-esteem/ambition.

You just described me with 100% accuracy. Congratulations!

 

[Woodsey]

I know bumps are frowned upon, but they aren't actually against the rules, and I posted this while pretty much everyone who was awake was focused on the royal wedding.

All I can say is... LOL.

OT: I prefer more modern terms, like "bad man", "player", "pussy", "twat", etc.

Normal guys are just normal.

 

[Deef]

I think that all the alpha/beta stuff should use the Brave New World hierarchy.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I think that all the alpha/beta stuff should use the Brave New World hierarchy.

No thank you, I like my women without mustaches

 

[Kopikatsu]

I think that all the alpha/beta stuff should use the Brave New World hierarchy.

Brave New World was a very...unhappy book.


Personally, in a world like that, I would take the 'Lighthouse' way out, if you catch my meaning.

 

[WingedIncubus]

Most people don't know squat about hierarchy in the animal kingdom. Only nerds define themselves as Betas. In fact, they would be Omegas, bottom-feeders.

Basically, it's a dorky way to define people between the cool guys and the uncool guys.

A Beta is a follower that, in time, could overthrow an Alpha in a test. Alphas and Betas are the top of the crowd in animal hierarchy, and the Alpha primus inter pares. The Beta follows the Alpha but can always challenge the Alpha to a fight for the position of leader. Most times they lose and either die, surrender, or leave to found a new pack with themselves as leaders, but when they win, the Alpha is gone.

"Nice guys" as Betas? Gimme a break. They are the run of the mill packmates, they are ordinary dudes. As for nerds, they don't count. They are out of the mating game except with other nerdy girls, or when good girls get tired to be to used by us bad boys and need to settle down with a chump that will treat them like princesses, and nerds tend to make more money and be even more desperate so they are the ideal targets.

 

[NeutralDrow]

People don't know Greek.

Personally, I consider myself the omicron male.

 

[Palademon]

In that case, they need a new greek letter for me.

 

[FalloutJack]

If a terminalogy is not understood universally, then it has failed to endear itself properly. Nobody gives a pair of dingo's kidneys about Alpha, Beta, and whatnot.

 

[Saelune]

The internet does not get it wrong, its just you looking too far into something that is not important.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Only ever heard Alpha Male. Sooooo yeah.

 

[evilstonermonkey]

Internet slang is rarely if ever based on actual information. Being upset about alpha and beta not synching up with their meanings in another setting is like being pissed off that yield has a different meaning in farming than it does in engineering. The internet term Alpha would have come because everybody knows what an alpha male is. The term beta would have come from the simple fact that it is after (or less than) alpha. Sure, if alpha does originate from the term alpha male it is understandable that you would expect the metaphor to be continued, but it isn't because the people making the metaphor didn't know and/or care about the in depth terminology for pack hierarchy.

Personally I am an omega, which sucks, but whenever I do a handstand I become a space marine so there is that. Or maybe I am a lambda. I have been told that with a HEV suit I would look a lot like Gordon Freeman. Or theta maybe, I was once inside a scientologist. The possibilities are endless! And by endless I mean limited to 24 individual characters.

 

[Ham_authority95]

I've actually never heard of anything other than "alpha male" before this post. So yeah.

As for what I think now, it just seems silly to me.

Yeah, me too. Enough with the titles and shit, just focus on being yourself and don't worry about what your potential "rank" would be.

 

[SilentCom]

I've never even heard of beta or omega male. I'm definitely not alpha, probably not beta either. I'm probably Omega, or just not on the scale.