Hacker News Reader

Comment by baryphonic | Hacker News Reader

Okay, let's accept this framing for the sake of argument. Does the n-word then merely refer to dark color?

I think not. It's obviously used as a slur and a way to shut people up. Reductionism to etymology or literal interpretation do not change that fact.

View on HN

The n-word is a slur, yes, that has no bearing on whether other words are slurs or not. Do you have a point or should I just accept that whatever word you deem a slur, is one?

I did a quick search of Twitter.[0] Lots of uses of "TERF" and all of them have extremely negative connotations. "TERF" is equated with transphobia, "hate"/"hate speech," bigotry and even an intention to murder.

I'm not sure how specifically you would define "slur," and I'd be curious to learn, but to my mind "a word used almost universally to defame and cast hyperbolic, inaccurate aspersions on an outgroup" seems like a reasonable working definition that encapsulates all other slurs as well as this one.

[0] https://mobile.twitter.com/search?q=TERF&src=typed_query

Yes, I disagree with that definition of slur, the bar is too low if that's all it takes. In my opinion a history of oppression is what matters and if we go by how twitter uses a word, "Karen" and "Boomer" would be slurs too.

Aren't "Karens" subject to oppression by the patriarchy, though?

Obviously Karens are not subjected to oppression, woman may be oppressed, but Karens are not all woman and are not oppressed as a social class.

Though I supose from their point of view, asking for basic decency is akin to oppression. Fitting, considering the original topic.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com