3 ms·

Using the term SJW needs to stop. It's the next spell of mockery of legitimate causes. Before the mockering of social justice there was (and continues to be)

Using the term SJW needs to stop. It's the next spell of mockery of legitimate causes. Before the mockering of social justice there was (and continues to be) a mockery of feminism online. Sure you can point to the idiotic extremes of "social justice" and feminism but it in my opinion the way it's used is really hurting the perception of the broader and more moderate causes which are really important. I can't help but feel the proponents of these slurs are mainly young white males who are apparently incapable of empathising with problems they can't identify with. Social Justice and Feminism are both extremely important topics.

zo1 10y ago
There are legitimate, reasoned and articulated points/individuals that are quite against such things. But conversation is effectively shut down for those of us with dissenting opinions on such touchy topics. Real conversations are to be had, on both sides of the coin. I.e. Racism vs reverse-racism. Feminism vs male-discrimination. Open-borders vs closed-borders. etc. You simply can not discuss it without barriers shooting straight up and feelings getting offended causing flame-wars. Usually on the part of those that hold the current "popular" opinions. I would argue it's due to them not necessarily holding those opinions based on reason, but rather on popularity, thus they get hurt because they can't defend their points when questioned/opposed. Then complain about harassment, etc. The conversation is being controlled, the language policed, and individual's lives being ruined. Even if they're not ruined, they're silenced for fear of consequences. Sure, there are people lashing back because of this. SJW, "feminazi", and all those childish things are consequences of that. When we can't have a discussion in the reasoned middle, some will create fake accounts and use anonymity to quickly express base emotions without reason. I'd argue you get the same from the other side, just minus the negative social/political consequences. E.g. "Mansplaining", "brogramming", "Trump is Literally Hitler", "Libtard", "Male/White privilege". The goal of those is to belittle, demean, and shut-down conversation.
skylan_q 10y ago
"Watch your pronouns" and all that other assorted trash IS insane. It doesn't deserve serious discussion and contemplation, so we slap a label on it because it does good enough.
fullshark 10y ago
> Social Justice and Feminism are both extremely important topics. Sure but that doesn't mean all their proponents should be free from mockery. That term has legs because it's become a good description for a certain type of person that uses those causes primarily as nothing more than fuel for their own vanity.
MaxfordAndSons 10y ago
I agree that using "SJW" as a pejorative is absurd - how can one view the pursuit of social justice as a negative? Unfortunately, those who do use it thus are generally unwilling to admit to the importance of language in determining social relations/perceptions/biases, so they'll hand wave about the targets of their disparagement being self-evidently ridiculous (as the sib comment here does).
- Scirra_Tom 10y ago
  Just want to say thank you for this comment, it's one of the most articulate and succinct things I've ever read and I wish I could express myself similarly! It's stuck with me!

zo1 10y ago

There are legitimate, reasoned and articulated points/individuals that are quite against such things. But conversation is effectively shut down for those of us with dissenting opinions on such touchy topics. Real conversations are to be had, on both sides of the coin. I.e. Racism vs reverse-racism. Feminism vs male-discrimination. Open-borders vs closed-borders. etc. You simply can not discuss it without barriers shooting straight up and feelings getting offended causing flame-wars. Usually on the part of those that hold the current "popular" opinions. I would argue it's due to them not necessarily holding those opinions based on reason, but rather on popularity, thus they get hurt because they can't defend their points when questioned/opposed. Then complain about harassment, etc. The conversation is being controlled, the language policed, and individual's lives being ruined. Even if they're not ruined, they're silenced for fear of consequences. Sure, there are people lashing back because of this. SJW, "feminazi", and all those childish things are consequences of that. When we can't have a discussion in the reasoned middle, some will create fake accounts and use anonymity to quickly express base emotions without reason. I'd argue you get the same from the other side, just minus the negative social/political consequences. E.g. "Mansplaining", "brogramming", "Trump is Literally Hitler", "Libtard", "Male/White privilege". The goal of those is to belittle, demean, and shut-down conversation.

skylan_q 10y ago

"Watch your pronouns" and all that other assorted trash IS insane. It doesn't deserve serious discussion and contemplation, so we slap a label on it because it does good enough.

fullshark 10y ago

> Social Justice and Feminism are both extremely important topics. Sure but that doesn't mean all their proponents should be free from mockery. That term has legs because it's become a good description for a certain type of person that uses those causes primarily as nothing more than fuel for their own vanity.

MaxfordAndSons 10y ago

I agree that using "SJW" as a pejorative is absurd - how can one view the pursuit of social justice as a negative? Unfortunately, those who do use it thus are generally unwilling to admit to the importance of language in determining social relations/perceptions/biases, so they'll hand wave about the targets of their disparagement being self-evidently ridiculous (as the sib comment here does).

Scirra_Tom 10y ago
Just want to say thank you for this comment, it's one of the most articulate and succinct things I've ever read and I wish I could express myself similarly! It's stuck with me!