this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2024
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I've seen this without the slur, but it's still weird that people are out here trying to redefine specific, well-defined, unambiguous, basic, and universal English terms. Not as a metaphor, not even as a bit, or attempted point (luckily, as it wouldn't have been a good one), just using a term in a way apparently nobody else ever does.
I was discussing with somebody about privilege IRL. They told me they didn't believe the word "privilege" existed. I was like do you want to use a different word? They were like no, the word and concept just doesn't exist.
I'm very sure this person was just an idiot and didn't have malicious intent. But still, wow.
out of fairness, they might have had malicious intent (edit missed that this was IRL, my bad. this comment probably doesn’t apply to your situation apologies. leaving it up with this disclaimer as i think it’s valuable)
language has a lot of power. the ability to accurately describe one’s condition and identity is absolutely required in order for organization, and therefore change, to happen.
that’s why conservatives get so worked up over gender pronouns and words like “cisgender.” they are well aware that a community that is denied language to describe itself is nothing more than a set of individuals.
if you deny the word “privilege” then you deny by extension the word “unprivileged” and then you are left without a word for the millions of people lacking basic education, income, housing etc to describe themselves.
(im vaguely aware this was the plot to that one george orwell novel)
"One must live in a privileged position to believe privilege does not exist."
— Me, just now.
yes! thank you for this analysis.
besides the casual bigotry, the wanton disregard for useful semantics is exactly what i wanted to call out as it seems especially unique to internet spaces.