Don’t Be Such a “Creeper”
The slang that’s changed from clingy plants to pixelated monsters.
Definition & Modern Usage
A long plant that can grow “along the ground or up walls” might not be your first choice for the literal definition of a creeper. Nowadays, the term has meanings more in line with a bearer of unwanted romantic attention. With the growing popularity of new media texts like video games, the term has also come to refer to a small villain in the computer game Minecraft.
Although the slang likely has origins outside of the internet, social media and dating websites have made the slang nearly ubiquitous online. Despite the similarities with the other slang “creep”, a “creeper” is sometimes used in different situations due to (what some might perceive as) a difference in connotation. Online, the slang generally refers to someone who will put forth attention (sexual, romantic, or otherwise) that is received by the other person as being unwanted. The slang is also typically used in the disapproval of male attention rather than female.
Unrequited or unwarranted?
Along with many other pressures imparted on men by historical institutions of traditional masculinity, romantic/sexual initiation is one of the most egregious when it comes to encouraging unwanted attention. Unfortunately, the internet is another place where this practice has become commonplace. In her Independent article “Gender roles still prevalent in online dating, study finds,” Rachel Hosie relays how men are 30% more likely than women to initiate a conversation on the dating site eHarmony.
However, the widespread knowledge of those practices has led to many preconceived notions about male romantic behavior that may not necessarily have to do with the actual amount of attention received. To some, physical attractiveness plays a larger role in determining when somebody gets called a “creeper”.
The development of new media has made online dating and socialization diverge somewhat from “real life” counterparts, so many conclusions could be drawn from the existence of “creeper” as a slang term online. Its modern usage developed from the negativity associated with overreaching personal boundaries, and its somewhat subjective application to those not deemed attractive enough illustrates the current standard for gender performance.
