/lit/ - Literature

>Ghetto and inner city

>Smith says terms like ghetto and inner city grew out of the industrial revolution in North America. The word ghetto also has a painful historical root in Europe during the Holocaust, and was likely derived from Jewish settlements in Italy centuries ago.

>"Ghettos and inner cities were typically seen to be places where less refined people lived — the people who weren't up to date culturally, development-wise," he said.

>Meanwhile, from the late 1900s onwards, political rhetoric and media representation showed suburbs as pleasant, quiet and gentle areas, while inner city was seen as dangerous and risky, he explained.

>Using these terms implies a negative connotation toward people of a certain socio-economic class (often associated with racialized groups) — typically those who have recently immigrated and often move to large metropolis areas and not suburbs, he said.

>Spooky

The term "spook" — used sometimes to refer to a ghost, spy, or something that's strange and frightening (often used during Halloween) — has a history of being an anti-Black slur when white soldiers began calling fellow Black soldiers "spooks" during World War II.

>"[It's offensive] because of who and to what it's applied to," said Smith.

>He reminds people a lot is packed into certain terms you may use flippantly.

>"There's a history behind it and there's also all these connections that are made to other groups," he said. "It's almost like these terms have tentacles that spread and attach themselves to other things and infect."

>Spooky

>The term "spook" — used sometimes to refer to a ghost, spy, or something that's strange and frightening (often used during Halloween) — has a history of being an anti-Black slur when white soldiers began calling fellow Black soldiers "spooks" during World War II.

>"[It's offensive] because of who and to what it's applied to," said Smith.

>He reminds people a lot is packed into certain terms you may use flippantly.

>"There's a history behind it and there's also all these connections that are made to other groups," he said. "It's almost like these terms have tentacles that spread and attach themselves to other things and infect."

>Sold down the river

>This phrase, now used to mean someone profoundly betrayed or jeopardized one's position, is directly connected to the transatlantic slave trade, Smith said.

>"The problem with it, we use it in a lot of spaces," he said. "The negative connotation is hearkening back to a time when enslaved African people would be literally sold down the [Mississippi] river for profit, and seen as chattel, objects that could be used or disposed of at the whims of their slave owners."

>Linguist Taniguchi says once we learn the painful history behind phrases like these, we need to commit to being sensitive to others' experiences.

>"Language, communication, and free speech are valuable, but these things cannot come at the cost of endangering someone else's rights and pursuit of happiness."

>Grandfathered in

>Likewise, the phrase grandfathered in — modernly referring to someone or a business being exempt from new rules and continue operating as is — dates back to a 19th century policy called the "grandfather clause," which indirectly stopped Black Americans from voting by limiting eligibility to only those whose ancestors could vote.

>It's also speaking to that patriarchy ... a patriarchic family having supreme power over how things operate and manifest, and them possessing all the power and autonomy to make decisions and dictate the course of the future," said Smith.

>"It's re-inscribing the idea of a male-dominated society or world."

>"At a meeting, let's say you said 'grandfathered in' — you had no idea that it has racist roots. If a Black person asks you not to use that term, then don't," said Taniguchi.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6252274

Here's the rest.

>uhm these words are problematic sweaty
>what? No of course we believe in free speech, just only when it applies to speech we approve of

I fear for the future. Truly, I do. How is this not widely understood as authoritarian? Is it because it's veiled in good intentions?

>>19545860
For a myriad reasons
1. This is just the opinion of these two guys. It says nothing about what will happen in the future
2. Words no longer being used is not something that fundamentally changes the future. Open a dictionary and at every page you’ll find terms upon terms we no longer use.
3. There’s nothing authoritarian about intellectuals arguing why we should or shouldn’t do something; in fact it’s basically the entire history of western philosophy summarized

>>19545822
Hero

>>19545827
>>Meanwhile, from the late 1900s onwards, political rhetoric and media representation showed suburbs as pleasant, quiet and gentle areas, while inner city was seen as dangerous and risky, he explained.
god i wonder why that is
must be racism
-sent from my iphone in NYC's "you can take as many drugs as you want here and we'll revive you pro bono" zone, or while steping over human shit in san francisco

Black people aren’t even really black lol.

I use niggerlist, nigger sheep and niggermail.

>>19545838
wtf Stirner is even more based now!

>>19545881
if there were ever a place that will ever see these sort of things happen i will be the first to die and kill as many as possible that made it happen in minecraft

>Spirit animal, powwow and tribe
>Given the history and current oppression of Indigenous communities by settlers, explained Taniguchi, metaphors English speakers casually use — such as spirit animal, let's have a powwow, and tribe — can be a painful insult to Indigenous communities.

>"[It's] a reminder that their past and culture have always been treated as insignificant by settlers," she added.

>Spirit animal has become a term of endearment to describe someone who the speaker deeply relates to or loves, explained anti-racism facilitator Kalra. Some synonyms can be alter ego, idol or soulmate.

>However, she notes, spiritual connection and reverence for nature and ancestors is deeply rooted across Indigenous cultures — and the phrase itself turns that concept into a casual catchphrase that isn't widely used, or even used at all, among Indigenous people.

>The same idea applies to using tribe and powwow — used to say "let's gather" — casually in conversation by someone who's not Indigenous.

>"If a non-Indigenous person says 'this is my tribe,' I don't think it's OK, despite the fact that they're using it presumably in a metaphorical way," said Taniguchi.

>Lowest on the totem pole
>Totem poles are sacred items, much like headdresses, in Indigenous culture, explained Kalra.

>The phrase "lowest on the totem pole," casually meaning something is less important, not only is culturally appropriating the totem pole, but it's contextually wrong.

>"In some First Nations communities, being [carved] low on the totem pole might actually be a great honour," she said. "When you're culturally appropriating somebody's cultural symbols ... you're saying that marginalized members of society are free for taking."

>Savage
>In the modern context, savage has become a word used to describe someone who is fierce, or a situation that is intense — and carries a positive or semi-positive connotation.

>It's used a lot in the sports world, explained Smith, especially among men when describing actions, behaviours and thoughts that don't conform to norms.

>The problem, he says, is the word's origin: it was used by colonizers who saw themselves as "the epitome of refinement, intelligence, spirituality" and considered Indigenous people, and Black and other people of colour who were forcibly brought to North America, or arrived here soon after colonization, as "savage, brutal, unrefined, and uncultured in comparison to European settlers."

>In 2019, an Indigenous educator called out a clothing line for using the word on T-shirts.

>"It's important to understand that for Indigenous people, this word is our N-word," said Douglas Stewart at the time.

>Gypped and gypsy
>When someone says they've been "gypped," they mean defrauded or swindled of something.

>But that word, which stems from gypsy, is problematic as it has been used as a derogatory slur against Roma who historically travelled from place to place across Europe, says Smith.

>The term perpetuates the stereotype that Roma are lower class, not mature or cultured, and foreigners, explained Smith.

>"You're othering somebody," he said

>First-world problem
>People have slowly moved away from using the term third world to describe low-income countries, says Kalra, but the phrase first-world problem is still used to convey that something is an issue only to those who live in a country with privilege and wealth.

>It can be classist, she said.

>"When we're saying first world, we're putting them at the top ... What does it convey?" she said. "Why do we have to use these prefixes, which kind of dehumanize some country or some human being or a group?"

>Brainstorm, blindsided and blind-spot
>The prefix blind is often used in metaphorical terms like blindsided, blind spot and blind leading the blind, to describe the limitation of sight.

>"I can see that being offensive to people who can't see," said Julie Cashman, a member of the disability community and co-chair of Consumer Action Committee, which advocates for individuals with disabilities.

>Using the term brainstorm could also be insensitive to those who have brain injuries or are neurodiverse, added Cashman.

>"More important is the stigma that it will effectuate about ... disorders [like] epilepsy for example," said Kalra.

>Dumb and lame
>Dumb is modernly used to describe lack of intelligence, but it was once used to describe someone who lacked the ability to speak. Similarly, lame is now used to describe someone or something that's boring or unexciting, but was also a term used against those who have limitations of movement in their limbs.

>Both are highly offensive when describing people in the disability community, but also when used casually, says Cashman.

>"People now are using lame as a slang, so they go around saying that's lame," she said. "I don't think they really understand what that means .. they just think it's a cool term, but for me, when I hear that, I definitely know what that term means ... it's something I wouldn't say."

>Tone deaf
>Though it's used to describe someone who's not able to distinguish musical pitch, or metaphorically as someone who's insensitive to certain matters, tone deaf may not be a kind term to those who have hearing impairments.

>Cashman suggests using descriptors like "musically disinclined" instead. Insensitive is another suggestion.

>Crippled
>This term is used more as a verb to describe a situation, however, it was used historically dating back thousands of years to describe people who are partially disabled or unable to move their limbs.

>"I've seen that word being used in the Bible," said Cashman. "I think that's very offensive ... I would use maybe disability ... or mobility issue."

>"It's ableist," said Hélène Courchesne, co-ordinator of planning and funding with Ottawa-based group ABLE2, which supports people with disabilities. "It's taken out of context and that's when it becomes offensive."

>Metaphorically, people can say "overtaken by fear," she suggests.

>"It's the pejorative connotation to it. You're not as good as me, you'll never be as good as me," Courchesne explained about using words that can be painful for the disability community.

>"Language is very important."

That's the rest of it.

What the hell is wrong Canucks? They're the North American Swedes at this point. Total cucks.

Orwell wrote about this

>>19545822
>an anti racism trainer

>>19545859
Can I still tell people to get Shreked?

>>19546598
Going from shakespeare to modern english is newspeak also

>>19545881
>"intellectuals"
>can't tell the difference between the color black and Africans

??

>>19546598
he certainly did. he is more relevant than ever before.

>>19545881
>1. This is just the opinion of these two guys. It says nothing about what will happen in the future

It's more than 2 guys pushing this, stop being dishonest.

>2. Words no longer being used is not something that fundamentally changes the future. Open a dictionary and at every page you’ll find terms upon terms we no longer use.

Stuff like balderdash went out of fashion, they were not censored out of use by those in power.

3. There’s nothing authoritarian about intellectuals arguing why we should or shouldn’t do something; in fact it’s basically the entire history of western philosophy summarized

Again, you are being dishonest. At best, they argued what you could not say to God or Crown, not what proles say to each other.

>>19546769
No it isn't retard, there's a difference between this and natural language evolution. Dilate.

dont care suck my dick blackmail blacklist black sheep black nigger black spook nigger nigger nigger ghetto nigger inner city nigger spooky nigger down the river

>>19545881
>There’s nothing authoritarian about intellectuals arguing why we should or shouldn’t do something; in fact it’s basically the entire history of western philosophy summarized
Congrats on the most reddit /lit/ post of the year.

>>19546791

Required reading