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Comment by plurple | Hacker News Reader

Luckily, whether you consider something racist or not has no actual impact on the usage of the term. And of course, you’re free to call a speeder an “illegal” if you want, just like apparently you’re free to call other HN users racist for using common terminology in a way you don’t like.

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I give you Teen Vogue:

Why You Shouldn’t Use the Term “Illegals” Not only is it offensive, it's dehumanizing.

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/why-you-shouldnt-use-the-ter...

Well-cited article with numerous references. Teen Vogue has become quite serious of late.

> whether you consider something racist or not has no actual impact on the usage of the term

Thats true

> for using common terminology in a way you don’t like.

When did it become common terminology? I am 47 years old and don't remember that term ever being used until the last presidential election as a means to vilify people of color.

Maybe I just wasn't paying attention the other 44 years?

I'm about your age and that term has been used as long as I've been alive.

I guess I should have been paying better attention then

I'm same and same.

It used to be "illegal aliens" I think? That's the shortened form.

Unfortunately any word used to describe a population that people don't like will stop being a descriptor and become a slur if it's used long enough.

NPR 2009: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112167...

CBS 2010: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8xTJ8WCGNU

Forbes 2015: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2015/06/05/obamas-im...

The Nation 2007: https://www.thenation.com/article/what-america-owes-its-ille...

NY Times 2015:https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/23/magazine/the-unwelcome-re...

Brookings Institution 1996: https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/why-separate-legal-illega...

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