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Comment by andrepd | Hacker News Reader

Off-topic, but you should be aware that the (((triple parentheses))) are apparently an anti-semitic thing. Just so you know it can be misinterpreted in some contexts x)

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When anti-semites or alt-right people or other hate groups decide to adopt an arbitrary, commonly used sign (like, the "ok" symbol [1]), is the correct reaction to stop using that sign, basically giving it to them, or is the correct reaction to use it as much as possible in non-racist/x-ist contexts, to dilute the intended co-option? Honestly I don't really know the answer. I completely understand avoiding it to not have your comment or action taken out of context, as the risk of personal damage is high, but on the other hand I don't feel that society should just "give away" common symbology just because some hate group decides to take it. How can this be fought?

[1]: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/26/us/adl-new-hate-symbols/i...

I am curious as to what most westerners react when they see a Hindu swastika? Is it common knowledge that there's a Hindu/Buddhist swastika or is it percieved as Nazi swastika?

It was a Native American symbol also. It was on the insignia of the 45th Division, a National Guard unit from the American southwest; but as WW II approached, it was swapped for a thunderbird.

Kipling used a Hindu swastika on his books. He also, I believe, discontinued this with the rise of the Nazis. Don't those arms point counter-clockwise, though?

Buddhist swastika is counterclockwise. Hindu Swastika is clockwise. None of them are tilted like Nazi swastika, though.

Ah. Then it was the Buddhist swastika Kipling used.

When idiots started using the "echo" tags in tech oriented forums, people would jokingly ask where all these damn lisp programmers were coming from.

I've never heard of this perhaps because HN is about the only social media I use. However, there is an ADL page on this. See https://www.adl.org/education/references/hate-symbols/echo

Context is everything. I am pretty sure LISP is not Jewish so (((looking at your LISP))) is perfectly fine.

John McCarthy's mom was Jewish.

Huh, I had no idea. HN won't let me edit it either. Thanks for letting me know.

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