2 ms·

It's very hard to believe that this redefinition of the word racism was done innocently. On its face racism is act of distinguishing people by race for favor or

It's very hard to believe that this redefinition of the word racism was done innocently. On its face racism is act of distinguishing people by race for favor or disfavor. When it is redefined as it has been in the humanities it leaves a vacuum. There's no longer a word for the concept that racism originally referred to.

kenjackson 11y ago
Its true there is no single word, but I think in this circle they use terms for this. Racial discrimination or prejudice.
chiaro 11y ago
It's not taking anything away--both definitions are valid and commonly used. It's just up to the pair of you to realize you're talking past each other. She'd probably have no trouble agreeing that white people can be the target of bigotry just as you'd agree that white people are rarely at the pointy end of broader systemic injustices, at least in this society. Much as it may be fun, I'd caution against attributing it some kind of conspiracy of sociologists.
- smokeyj 11y ago
  > both definitions are valid and commonly used In my experience there's one definition used by the general public, and another used by social justice warrior academic types to prove they have a more mindful world view than you. But that's just my experience.
- dropit_sphere 11y ago
  There needn't be a conspiracy. An evolved motte-and-bailey strategy is bad enough as it is.
czep 11y ago
Just because you learned of it just now doesn't make it a "re-definition". Who gave you the right to call your definition the real one?
- Kalium 11y ago
  The English language is one where words are defined by popular usage. Who gave you the right to call the definition you prefer the real one?
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
dnr 11y ago
Discrimination is a pretty good word. That's the one they use for things like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-discrimination_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-discrimination_law

kenjackson 11y ago

Its true there is no single word, but I think in this circle they use terms for this. Racial discrimination or prejudice.

chiaro 11y ago

It's not taking anything away--both definitions are valid and commonly used. It's just up to the pair of you to realize you're talking past each other. She'd probably have no trouble agreeing that white people can be the target of bigotry just as you'd agree that white people are rarely at the pointy end of broader systemic injustices, at least in this society. Much as it may be fun, I'd caution against attributing it some kind of conspiracy of sociologists.

smokeyj 11y ago
> both definitions are valid and commonly used In my experience there's one definition used by the general public, and another used by social justice warrior academic types to prove they have a more mindful world view than you. But that's just my experience.
dropit_sphere 11y ago
There needn't be a conspiracy. An evolved motte-and-bailey strategy is bad enough as it is.

czep 11y ago

Just because you learned of it just now doesn't make it a "re-definition". Who gave you the right to call your definition the real one?

Kalium 11y ago
The English language is one where words are defined by popular usage. Who gave you the right to call the definition you prefer the real one?

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

dnr 11y ago

Discrimination is a pretty good word. That's the one they use for things like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-discrimination_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-discrimination_law