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Negro and gentile are both Othering. You might think that insular attitudes amongst minority communities can't have a negative effect. I respectfully disagree:

by unmole 5y ago

Negro and gentile are both Othering. You might think that insular attitudes amongst minority communities can't have a negative effect. I respectfully disagree: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/11/another-blow-to-one-of-americas-most-controversial-school-board/546227/ https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/11/anothe...

roenxi 5y ago
That doesn't make sense; "non-Jew" is also Othering. The only difference between the two is one is the term a Jew has used and one is the term you want them to use. That isn't a reasonable distinction; in fact given the lack of distinction the attempt to erode Jewish culture as a distinct thing may in itself be rather objectionable depending on who you ask. Mainly because it is pressuring a minority culture. You aren't drawing a distinction here to show why your word is kosher and the term gentile isn't.
- unmole 5y ago
  Anno Domini and Christian Era both refer to the same system of reckoning. However, the former presupposes the Christian Lord while the latter only references the existence of Christianity. Non-Jew only presupposes the existence of a Jewish people. Gentile on the other hand is a neologism which uses Jewish ontology to Other everyone else. The idea that what is acceptable behaviour is dependent on membership is abhorrent to me. I don't see how gentile is different from barbarian, kaffir or mleccha.
  - roenxi 5y ago
    When it comes to 'gentile', the etymology of the word isn't important to you because you don't want people to use it. When it comes to AD, the etymology becomes important because you don't want people to use it. And I think I'm picking up a bit that the context and intent matter unless the context is innocent and the intent is mild, in which case there is some linguistic argument about why there is unintended problems with language. I put it to you that this is making up reasons to be offended as the conversation goes along. There is no difference between calling people gentiles or non-Jews, except possible one shows that your in-group is more important than the orthodox Jewish in-group (or whoever it is who uses the word gentile). You aren't drawing meaningful reasons out to support this position. The two terms have the same intent, same implications and same meaning.
tux2bsd 5y ago
Minority is thoroughly abused word. (You have used it correctly, this statement does not relate to your comment.) You are spot on about "Othering".

by unmole 5y ago

roenxi 5y ago

That doesn't make sense; "non-Jew" is also Othering. The only difference between the two is one is the term a Jew has used and one is the term you want them to use. That isn't a reasonable distinction; in fact given the lack of distinction the attempt to erode Jewish culture as a distinct thing may in itself be rather objectionable depending on who you ask. Mainly because it is pressuring a minority culture. You aren't drawing a distinction here to show why your word is kosher and the term gentile isn't.

unmole 5y ago
Anno Domini and Christian Era both refer to the same system of reckoning. However, the former presupposes the Christian Lord while the latter only references the existence of Christianity. Non-Jew only presupposes the existence of a Jewish people. Gentile on the other hand is a neologism which uses Jewish ontology to Other everyone else. The idea that what is acceptable behaviour is dependent on membership is abhorrent to me. I don't see how gentile is different from barbarian, kaffir or mleccha.
- roenxi 5y ago
  When it comes to 'gentile', the etymology of the word isn't important to you because you don't want people to use it. When it comes to AD, the etymology becomes important because you don't want people to use it. And I think I'm picking up a bit that the context and intent matter unless the context is innocent and the intent is mild, in which case there is some linguistic argument about why there is unintended problems with language. I put it to you that this is making up reasons to be offended as the conversation goes along. There is no difference between calling people gentiles or non-Jews, except possible one shows that your in-group is more important than the orthodox Jewish in-group (or whoever it is who uses the word gentile). You aren't drawing meaningful reasons out to support this position. The two terms have the same intent, same implications and same meaning.

tux2bsd 5y ago

Minority is thoroughly abused word. (You have used it correctly, this statement does not relate to your comment.) You are spot on about "Othering".