QotD: “The legacy of identity politics has produced a problematic language idealism where we focus more on correct words and phrases rather than the material basis of oppression”

Absolutely true.

This is why I stopped commenting on FTB and Love Joy Feminism, amongst others, because regulars are more worried about the precise terms that allies use, and heaven forbid you use the wrong term, you’re suddenly treated as an MRA shitlord who deserves to DIAF. No, I am not kidding.

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I am the one who emailed you a couple of years ago about the grammar thing, remember?

I was accused of being an ‘asshole’ because I stated that I didn’t care if people thought I was dumb due to typos etc. Immediately I was labelled an ableist shitlord, and nothing I said would change that. However, the regulars were free to bash, and often did, those who did not write English as a first language etc, because of the unwritten rule ‘It’s ok when we do it’.

Because for some social justice activists, it isn’t actually about fighting oppression, it’s about punishing out-groupers, no matter what they say or so.

I have also seen accusations of transmisogyny and literal *genocide* thrown around because someone spelled ‘trans woman’ without a space!

And I also told you about my experiences with using the term ‘female bodied’ to refer to people who can get pregnant, as that apparently *murders* trans women because people will assume that a penis and testes are male sex characteristics and not actually female sex characteristics!

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There are some good blogs there, but if you have no doubt noticed, the toxic commentariat has driven a few of the regular bloggers away.

A lot of the same people comment on Love Joy Feminism, and there you see the same emphasis on langauge.

I guess it’s a pomo thing? The idea that language is the end all, that it influences thought and behaviour, and that if we just change the language, for example, say, if we always refer to MTF TW as ‘female bodied’ that suddenly rednecks will stop beating them up?

It’s ridiculous.

My honest impression is that a lot of folks are drawn to identity politics because they can behave like bullies without repercussions. They get to signal how virtuous they are, and they get lots of attention if they claim to be oppressed. It’s a blank check to act like an arse and get lauded for it.

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