I’m a woman here. I didn’t have a visceral reaction to it the first time my husband introduced the concept of the SSH to me. In fact, I found it intriguing and it ultimately lead to a sense of relief for why things are the way they are between men and women, and also brought some extra clarity to me about my husband.
I was never upset or threatened by SSH. I found it instantly fascinating as I began identifying and typing the men in my life. It reduced the fog surrounding male hierarchies, interactions and behavior patterns. But then again, I've been married for 35 years. It explained a lot about my delta husband's over-helping tendencies and lack of comfort with leadership. I discovered things that would've been helpful to know decades ago. However I recognize that my interests and reactions to it, and most things, are an anomaly.
It articulated truths I had already been instinctually aware of and put it all into a nice tidy list and easy to understand language. But I had already gone through my "anger at the truth" moments from other things. Had the SSH come my way when I was 20 and single, there's no way I would have accepted it.
Great advice. When I am asked how I know all this, now that the book has been published, it's nice to simply respond that 'I read the book.' It is a cheat code, but it is too provocative and heady for most, including me, to explain effectively. I’ve found deltas cannot think outside themselves, and gammas get triggered by the way the SSH exposes their behavior. Gammas will just act like you are stupid for pointing out their BS, which is fine; luckily, I don’t have any working for me at the moment.
Women are an even harder case, often feeling like talking to a wall about this sort of thing. Luckily, my wife is an outlier who is hip to it, as her upbringing made it easier for her to conceptualize. Otherwise, just use it quietly to your own advantage. Speaking about is rarely, if ever, worth the hassle. Now that the book is available, just give them the title and let them know they can buy it if they are interested!
I love this stuff. I am particularly fascinated by human behavior and while the various different systems of organizing behavior patterns have their utilities the SSH reigns in terms of comprehensive predictive capacity. Because the system focuses solely on men it isn't limited to be some generic percentile of only one of five traits then split into the male/female expressions, and so on. It's a beautiful observation of men. It highlights their unique and special abilities, their strengths and weaknesses, can warn of pitfalls, can help understand natural heirarchy, and illuminate areas of improvement. I know women love to "what about me" literally everything which is a shame. This system is useful and consistently proves itself to be accurate.
I found Vox's WND column back in summer of 2004 and the first column that I read was a brutal piece on the plague of feminism that I clapped over. I migrated over to his blog and started posting 2yrs later. Therefore when Vox introduced SSH, I wasn't offended because a) Vox already established credibility and b) observation of my peers and my kids' peers showed SSH in action. However, I notice a distinct bristling when attempting to share with others.
My first reaction to hearing of the SSH is "where do I fit into it?" Upon finding that it's only for men, I became disgruntled. I tired coming up with a theory for women, but found it a bit of a mine field. Something about SSH keeps me interested, which is why I'm on Sigma Game, and in my fantasy world of "If I was in charge of a company", I'd definitely utilize SSH to get the right people in the right place. So I'm quite shocked to learn that, Vox, nobody has asked you to help organize their companies? Even ask you to create a SSH questionnaire?
The gist of it is that Hufflepuff maps more or less to Delta, and Ravenclaw to Gamma. Gryffindor and Slytherin code as Alpha / Bravo / Sigma, so they scare the HR harridans.
Slightly off topic but Vox could you please explain to the conservatives of all SSH types that women are women as you describe them and not males with boobs. FFS the conservatives' Outrage & Essays shtick has as much positive impression upon females as vaginal yeast.
Like some other ladies on here I don’t recall my initial reaction to SSH being negative but my husband ( sigma) had told me some things about what Vox had written previously just in regards to world events etc and then I ended up reading sigma game more on my own to understand him better.My husband doesn’t mince words in general so I didn’t find SSH or the things about women offensive, he had already introduced me to some concepts just in conversation, although I didn’t know what it was at the time.I do remember balking a bit when reading about women being solipsistic, but I think that was mostly because I didn’t really understand right at first and sometimes hard truth is uncomfortable.
SSH has been a help in navigating relationships with a lot of the men in my family, and their behavior has only solidified to me that SSH is spot on because they really do predictably react according to where they rank .
Personally I have enjoyed your writing for ages, and I subscribe to this substack and buy your books. Some of your positions on women I find myself thinking aren’t exactly right/ developed enough but you aren’t a women’s writer! At times your confident declarations have been a bit like ice cold water thrown in one’s face - a shock and yet utterly refreshing. To be honest, both you and the Big Bear have really helped me be a better wife and not embarrassed about actually liking my husband and enjoying my marriage.
It’s also been easier to tune out the female social pressure etc because you two are in my head. I definitely feel less of a need to share my opinions and hot on takes on things.
I have made the mistake of trying to explain the SSH to my French husband who doesn’t read a lot in English and it has not been a good idea because well the point of this post. Do not explain!! I do think it would be helpful for his business so please do french translation of Sigma Game! 💙
To you & her both: that homeschooled kind of silliness is genuinely the best.
I’m a woman here. I didn’t have a visceral reaction to it the first time my husband introduced the concept of the SSH to me. In fact, I found it intriguing and it ultimately lead to a sense of relief for why things are the way they are between men and women, and also brought some extra clarity to me about my husband.
I was never upset or threatened by SSH. I found it instantly fascinating as I began identifying and typing the men in my life. It reduced the fog surrounding male hierarchies, interactions and behavior patterns. But then again, I've been married for 35 years. It explained a lot about my delta husband's over-helping tendencies and lack of comfort with leadership. I discovered things that would've been helpful to know decades ago. However I recognize that my interests and reactions to it, and most things, are an anomaly.
There’s a reason Jesus gave parables instead of explanations. Truth is infinitely more profound than facts.
What does SSH mean in this context because it's definitely not Secure Shell
There's a pinned post in the substack archive explaining what SSH is.
Never explain the SSH.
My initial reaction was "Of course...of course!"
It articulated truths I had already been instinctually aware of and put it all into a nice tidy list and easy to understand language. But I had already gone through my "anger at the truth" moments from other things. Had the SSH come my way when I was 20 and single, there's no way I would have accepted it.
Great advice. When I am asked how I know all this, now that the book has been published, it's nice to simply respond that 'I read the book.' It is a cheat code, but it is too provocative and heady for most, including me, to explain effectively. I’ve found deltas cannot think outside themselves, and gammas get triggered by the way the SSH exposes their behavior. Gammas will just act like you are stupid for pointing out their BS, which is fine; luckily, I don’t have any working for me at the moment.
Women are an even harder case, often feeling like talking to a wall about this sort of thing. Luckily, my wife is an outlier who is hip to it, as her upbringing made it easier for her to conceptualize. Otherwise, just use it quietly to your own advantage. Speaking about is rarely, if ever, worth the hassle. Now that the book is available, just give them the title and let them know they can buy it if they are interested!
I love this stuff. I am particularly fascinated by human behavior and while the various different systems of organizing behavior patterns have their utilities the SSH reigns in terms of comprehensive predictive capacity. Because the system focuses solely on men it isn't limited to be some generic percentile of only one of five traits then split into the male/female expressions, and so on. It's a beautiful observation of men. It highlights their unique and special abilities, their strengths and weaknesses, can warn of pitfalls, can help understand natural heirarchy, and illuminate areas of improvement. I know women love to "what about me" literally everything which is a shame. This system is useful and consistently proves itself to be accurate.
I found Vox's WND column back in summer of 2004 and the first column that I read was a brutal piece on the plague of feminism that I clapped over. I migrated over to his blog and started posting 2yrs later. Therefore when Vox introduced SSH, I wasn't offended because a) Vox already established credibility and b) observation of my peers and my kids' peers showed SSH in action. However, I notice a distinct bristling when attempting to share with others.
The only things missing from the first example’s shared internal monologue are the parentheses and some emojis.
My first reaction to hearing of the SSH is "where do I fit into it?" Upon finding that it's only for men, I became disgruntled. I tired coming up with a theory for women, but found it a bit of a mine field. Something about SSH keeps me interested, which is why I'm on Sigma Game, and in my fantasy world of "If I was in charge of a company", I'd definitely utilize SSH to get the right people in the right place. So I'm quite shocked to learn that, Vox, nobody has asked you to help organize their companies? Even ask you to create a SSH questionnaire?
Although… women are apparently not against using SSH-adjacent things, in job interviews and such — such as Hogwarts houses from “Harry Potter”:
https://x.com/xisterinlaw/status/2046597335309013091?s=46
The gist of it is that Hufflepuff maps more or less to Delta, and Ravenclaw to Gamma. Gryffindor and Slytherin code as Alpha / Bravo / Sigma, so they scare the HR harridans.
Slightly off topic but Vox could you please explain to the conservatives of all SSH types that women are women as you describe them and not males with boobs. FFS the conservatives' Outrage & Essays shtick has as much positive impression upon females as vaginal yeast.
Even if she asks directly me about it: don’t explain nothing. Tell her to think it over herself.
/helping
Like some other ladies on here I don’t recall my initial reaction to SSH being negative but my husband ( sigma) had told me some things about what Vox had written previously just in regards to world events etc and then I ended up reading sigma game more on my own to understand him better.My husband doesn’t mince words in general so I didn’t find SSH or the things about women offensive, he had already introduced me to some concepts just in conversation, although I didn’t know what it was at the time.I do remember balking a bit when reading about women being solipsistic, but I think that was mostly because I didn’t really understand right at first and sometimes hard truth is uncomfortable.
SSH has been a help in navigating relationships with a lot of the men in my family, and their behavior has only solidified to me that SSH is spot on because they really do predictably react according to where they rank .
Personally I have enjoyed your writing for ages, and I subscribe to this substack and buy your books. Some of your positions on women I find myself thinking aren’t exactly right/ developed enough but you aren’t a women’s writer! At times your confident declarations have been a bit like ice cold water thrown in one’s face - a shock and yet utterly refreshing. To be honest, both you and the Big Bear have really helped me be a better wife and not embarrassed about actually liking my husband and enjoying my marriage.
It’s also been easier to tune out the female social pressure etc because you two are in my head. I definitely feel less of a need to share my opinions and hot on takes on things.
I have made the mistake of trying to explain the SSH to my French husband who doesn’t read a lot in English and it has not been a good idea because well the point of this post. Do not explain!! I do think it would be helpful for his business so please do french translation of Sigma Game! 💙