And I don't agree with that use, either. The problem here is that Social Justice Warrior is a term that, by definition, is intended as a pejorative. Comparing it to people who use the terms "sexist" or "racist" as a blanket pejorative isn't playing on the same level.Wraith said:Yeah, that's terrible, but I can't lie and say I haven't seen the same for the words misogynist and racist. I remember that thread we had long ago where people were discussing how they were called a racist in person and most of the instances were because a white person didn't bend over backwards for a minority.
I mean, you can use your own definition of the word, but the common usage of the term is more akin to use of "******" as a slur. It doesn't so much matter if the people involved are actually homosexual, it's an insult used to specifically put down people.
I'm not even sure the overuse of "racism" and "sexism" fall into that same category to be honest. I think decades of being told this isn't an issue causes a natural pushback. I still don't think it's right, but when you've been harrangued over things like skin colour or what's between your legs, you tend to either adapt or become a raw nerve.
It's hard to argue parity with the other side.
But I've got to say, I think it would be more offensive if the people who kept accusing me of social justice warrirorness used it the way you do. I get called it a lot for reasons that are not only important to me, but part of me. For supporting LGBT rights. Not only am I a member, I've had my life jeopardised for it. For supporting racial equality. Well, I'm half Native American. While I'm certainly fair enough to pass, in a culture like we had even sixty years ago, I could have been in serious trouble. Not as bad as people who were part black, no, but there's some sympathy on that end. And I have brown family members. Proximity alone has tempered my feelings.
So if I were to take them seriously, they are then accusing me of not really supporting....Well, myself, among other people.
And that's more insulting than someone simply trying to shut me down for thinking differently than they do.
On a related note, I'd like to think I'd have empathy for other people even without having been on the short end of the stick so often, but whether it's just who I am or an experiential thing, something has allowed me to empathise with others. I can never truly understand what it's like to be black in the US, but I can imagine a reasonable facsimile. I'll never be Muslim, but I have an idea of roughly what they're going through because I can roughly put myself in their shoes. It's never a perfect fit, but to be accused of insincerity, even if my ass isn't specifically on the line, it's ridiculous.
And that's not aimed at you, it's just the point of usage issues. Most of the people being called SJWs are gays and women and blacks and other groups for which they ultimately do have a stake.
And I know people are outraged at male feminists and white supporters of racial equality, but not everyone has to have a personal stake to care.
And since I've rambled this much, allow me to say that I find people who are only concerned for people exactly the same skin colour, gender, or sexuality as them to be as infuriating.