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I could understand the complaint if people were using demonrat or democRAT, but not just democrat. The Democratic Party members refer to themselves as democrat

I could understand the complaint if people were using demonrat or democRAT, but not just democrat. The Democratic Party members refer to themselves as democrats. How often does the average person hear the word democratic versus democrat? I don't understand how using the more commonly used word related to a party is some rhetorical war or epithet when people outside of the Democratic Party rarely ever hear democrats use the words "Democratic Party" or "Democratic representative". If they don't want to be referred to as the democrat party, they need to stop referring to themselves as democrats. Until then, people are going to use "democrat party" as the shortened form of "the party of the democrats".

js2 6y ago
This isn't a complaint. This is a statement of fact. It's called the Democratic Party, not the Democrat Party. The correct adjective to use when referring to its members is Democratic. Why is this important in a larger context? Because there's a faction of this country who doesn't like to acknowledge that the US is a democracy. A faction who feels justified in maintaining existing anti-democratic structures in order to retain power while not being able to win the popular vote. That same faction wants to divorce the concept of democracy itself from the Democratic Party. This rhetorical war didn't happen by accident, just like referring to the estate tax as a death tax didn't happen by accident. Especially in print, where there's no confusion between (small-d) democratic and (capital D) Democratic, I refuse to cede ground on this. Lastly, you should call people like they like to be called. I am a Democratic voter, not a Democrat voter. More importantly, I'm a democratic voter. Again, I link you to the wikipedia page on the subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet)
- salamimonger 6y ago
  Democrat Party. You are a Democrat voter. Not an insult, just a statement. I'm saying it only because you appear so offended by it. I'm from California and no one cares dude. This is why we keep losing with the working class and regular people. Because we have our heads stuck in our asses over some terminology instead of focusing on issues that affect poor people. Have a good day.
  - js2 6y ago
    And yet here you are deep in the comment section of a buried HN post. Apparently you do care. If it doesn’t matter, then just use the right word. I just vouched for your comment btw.
    - salamimonger 6y ago
      Appreciate it. But really, we need to focus on shit that matters. There's no need to browbeat people into using words we prefer. We want to make actual progress. Is the world any better if people use the right words, but continue to do bad things?
      - js2 6y ago
        I’m not trying to wage a war here. I just don’t the push back on this. I know it’s a trivial issue, but it’s important to me because it’s part of a larger conversation. Taking a step back: when someone corrects me on a terminology mistake, my response is “oh, I didn’t realize that. I’ll try to use the right terminology going forward.” Not to argue that it doesn’t matter. Again, if it doesn’t matter, then just move along with your day. To answer your question: no. Of course actions are more important than words.
        meragrin_ 6y ago
        > I’m not trying to wage a war here. You are literally calling the Democratic Party's extensive use of Democrats over Democratic <whatever> a rhetorical war by the GOP. Sounds like you are trying to wage a war here to me. > Taking a step back: when someone corrects me on a terminology mistake Here's the problem. You did not just stop at correcting their mistake. You stated "Democrat Party" is part of a rhetorical war by the GOP. You were trying to shame someone and slander another party for the Democratic Party's own use of Democrats as the primary means of identification. The GOP is not making the Democratic Party go around referring to their members as Democrats. It certainly is not preventing Democrats from using Democratic <whatever> in their communications which the average person is exposed to.
- meragrin_ 6y ago
  > The correct adjective to use when referring to its members is Democratic. The correct noun to use to refer to the members of the Democratic Party is Democrats. It's plastered all over their website and the host name of their site. > A faction who feels justified in maintaining existing anti-democratic structures in order to retain power while not being able to win the popular vote. Since when was winning the popular vote ever the criteria to "retain power" on the federal level? The Electoral College ensures the popular vote is not directly correlated with winning the presidency. The Senate was also designed to give additional power to states which were not as populous as other states. > That same faction wants to divorce the concept of democracy itself from the Democratic Party. How does calling the Democratic Party the "Democrat Party" do that? A democrat is someone who supports democracy. There is no divorcing of the concept of democracy when using "Democrat Party" in place of Democratic Party. > Again, I link you to the wikipedia page on the subject I'm sorry I cannot take that Wikipedia article seriously. Grammar does not even come into play. Nouns are commonly used attributively: water pipe, city streets, television station, Democrat party. Democrat rhyming with autocrat, plutocrat, and bureaucrat? Well democratic rhymes with autocratic, plutocratic, and bureaucratic so it is pointless to argue that. As for using "Democrat Party" for the emphasis on "rat", I guess Democrats should stop denigrating themselves and call themselves something other than Democrats. > This rhetorical war didn't happen by accident. And again, Democrats is the Democratic Party's primary identity to the average person. The only group which started this "rhetorical war" of using "Democrat Party" are the Democrats by way of using Democrats as their primary means of identification. Democratic Party's website: https://democrats.org/ https://democrats.org/ Joe Biden - "I ran as a proud Democrat." https://joebiden.com/presidency-for-all-americans/ https://joebiden.com/presidency-for-all-americans/ Until Democrats change their own habits and start using Democratic <whatever> in place of Democrats, Democrat is how the average person will identify the Democratic Party. > Lastly, you should call people like they like to be called. I did not see anyone addressing you specifically as Democrat. If you are a member of the Democratic Party, I suggest you take it up with them. They identify their members as Democrats.

js2 6y ago

This isn't a complaint. This is a statement of fact. It's called the Democratic Party, not the Democrat Party. The correct adjective to use when referring to its members is Democratic. Why is this important in a larger context? Because there's a faction of this country who doesn't like to acknowledge that the US is a democracy. A faction who feels justified in maintaining existing anti-democratic structures in order to retain power while not being able to win the popular vote. That same faction wants to divorce the concept of democracy itself from the Democratic Party. This rhetorical war didn't happen by accident, just like referring to the estate tax as a death tax didn't happen by accident. Especially in print, where there's no confusion between (small-d) democratic and (capital D) Democratic, I refuse to cede ground on this. Lastly, you should call people like they like to be called. I am a Democratic voter, not a Democrat voter. More importantly, I'm a democratic voter. Again, I link you to the wikipedia page on the subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet)

salamimonger 6y ago
Democrat Party. You are a Democrat voter. Not an insult, just a statement. I'm saying it only because you appear so offended by it. I'm from California and no one cares dude. This is why we keep losing with the working class and regular people. Because we have our heads stuck in our asses over some terminology instead of focusing on issues that affect poor people. Have a good day.
- js2 6y ago
  And yet here you are deep in the comment section of a buried HN post. Apparently you do care. If it doesn’t matter, then just use the right word. I just vouched for your comment btw.
  - salamimonger 6y ago
    Appreciate it. But really, we need to focus on shit that matters. There's no need to browbeat people into using words we prefer. We want to make actual progress. Is the world any better if people use the right words, but continue to do bad things?
    - js2 6y ago
      I’m not trying to wage a war here. I just don’t the push back on this. I know it’s a trivial issue, but it’s important to me because it’s part of a larger conversation. Taking a step back: when someone corrects me on a terminology mistake, my response is “oh, I didn’t realize that. I’ll try to use the right terminology going forward.” Not to argue that it doesn’t matter. Again, if it doesn’t matter, then just move along with your day. To answer your question: no. Of course actions are more important than words.
      - meragrin_ 6y ago
        > I’m not trying to wage a war here. You are literally calling the Democratic Party's extensive use of Democrats over Democratic <whatever> a rhetorical war by the GOP. Sounds like you are trying to wage a war here to me. > Taking a step back: when someone corrects me on a terminology mistake Here's the problem. You did not just stop at correcting their mistake. You stated "Democrat Party" is part of a rhetorical war by the GOP. You were trying to shame someone and slander another party for the Democratic Party's own use of Democrats as the primary means of identification. The GOP is not making the Democratic Party go around referring to their members as Democrats. It certainly is not preventing Democrats from using Democratic <whatever> in their communications which the average person is exposed to.
meragrin_ 6y ago
> The correct adjective to use when referring to its members is Democratic. The correct noun to use to refer to the members of the Democratic Party is Democrats. It's plastered all over their website and the host name of their site. > A faction who feels justified in maintaining existing anti-democratic structures in order to retain power while not being able to win the popular vote. Since when was winning the popular vote ever the criteria to "retain power" on the federal level? The Electoral College ensures the popular vote is not directly correlated with winning the presidency. The Senate was also designed to give additional power to states which were not as populous as other states. > That same faction wants to divorce the concept of democracy itself from the Democratic Party. How does calling the Democratic Party the "Democrat Party" do that? A democrat is someone who supports democracy. There is no divorcing of the concept of democracy when using "Democrat Party" in place of Democratic Party. > Again, I link you to the wikipedia page on the subject I'm sorry I cannot take that Wikipedia article seriously. Grammar does not even come into play. Nouns are commonly used attributively: water pipe, city streets, television station, Democrat party. Democrat rhyming with autocrat, plutocrat, and bureaucrat? Well democratic rhymes with autocratic, plutocratic, and bureaucratic so it is pointless to argue that. As for using "Democrat Party" for the emphasis on "rat", I guess Democrats should stop denigrating themselves and call themselves something other than Democrats. > This rhetorical war didn't happen by accident. And again, Democrats is the Democratic Party's primary identity to the average person. The only group which started this "rhetorical war" of using "Democrat Party" are the Democrats by way of using Democrats as their primary means of identification. Democratic Party's website: https://democrats.org/ https://democrats.org/ Joe Biden - "I ran as a proud Democrat." https://joebiden.com/presidency-for-all-americans/ https://joebiden.com/presidency-for-all-americans/ Until Democrats change their own habits and start using Democratic <whatever> in place of Democrats, Democrat is how the average person will identify the Democratic Party. > Lastly, you should call people like they like to be called. I did not see anyone addressing you specifically as Democrat. If you are a member of the Democratic Party, I suggest you take it up with them. They identify their members as Democrats.