When it comes to "incels", reddit engages in victim-blaming

Something like 86% of incels reported being bullied in school. A disproportionately high amount also report child abuse in the home.

With most people in society, people like this would be seen as victims and empathised with, but I've noticed if the word "incel" is added in to a description (either by the person themself or by a 3rd party), the normal, rational empathy disappears and the bullying is rationalised as "they must have been bullied for being an incel" or "they must have had a shitty attitude or been a hateful person". Prior to the obsession with the term "incel", it was widely known that bullying occurs towards people who aren't doing anything morally wrong and I'd say this is still known in discussions, until the phrase "incel" is invoked, the person becomes an "other" (speaking sociologically), which then shuts down critical thought and empathy.

Even with people who claim to have been "incels" (a nebulous term) and no longer are, people tend to blame them and say things such as "well done for turning your life around" - notice there's no focus on the immorality of the bullying or the responsibility of the perpetrators. For example, we wouldn't say to a female domestic abuse survivor "well done for turning your life around" if they stop having PTSD or fears of being abused again.