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A thread on language choices.
If you're on the right, and you're describing your opponents or their ideas:
1) Use BIGOT/BIGOTRY, not RACIST/RACISM
2) Use CONSPIRACY THEORY/THEORIST, not HOAX/HOAXER
3) Use PROGRESSIVE PRIVILEGE, not DOUBLE STANDARD/HYPOCRISY
If you're on the right, and you're describing your opponents or their ideas:
1) Use BIGOT/BIGOTRY, not RACIST/RACISM
2) Use CONSPIRACY THEORY/THEORIST, not HOAX/HOAXER
3) Use PROGRESSIVE PRIVILEGE, not DOUBLE STANDARD/HYPOCRISY
"But Will, Dems are the real racists!"
They've redefined racism to mean prejudice+power.
You can take the time to fight them on that.
Or you can just frame their intolerance as BIGOTRY
Which:
1) they haven't redefined
2) sounds terrible
3) has terrible connotations
They've redefined racism to mean prejudice+power.
You can take the time to fight them on that.
Or you can just frame their intolerance as BIGOTRY
Which:
1) they haven't redefined
2) sounds terrible
3) has terrible connotations
It's also a subtle high ground maneuver
Racism is just one form of bigotry
By opposing BIGOTRY you are opposing intolerance generally
Does anyone think intolerance is good?
Rhetorical
Racism is just one form of bigotry
By opposing BIGOTRY you are opposing intolerance generally
Does anyone think intolerance is good?
Rhetorical
Next - Russiagate is a CONSPIRACY THEORY, not a HOAX.
Apologies to @Cernovich, as the latter works with his branding.
Why?
1) It's more accurate
2) It's more of a pejorative
3) It defangs an effective piece of progressive rhetoric
Apologies to @Cernovich, as the latter works with his branding.
Why?
1) It's more accurate
2) It's more of a pejorative
3) It defangs an effective piece of progressive rhetoric
Accuracy - a HOAX suggests intentionality, not easy to prove
Pejorative - CONSPIRACY THEORIST has insane negative connotations (think AJ/Infowars/Truthers), it's sticky, nasty rhetoric
Defanging - The left hasn't redefined "conspiracy theory"; it can be turned back on them
Pejorative - CONSPIRACY THEORIST has insane negative connotations (think AJ/Infowars/Truthers), it's sticky, nasty rhetoric
Defanging - The left hasn't redefined "conspiracy theory"; it can be turned back on them
Finally, PROGRESSIVE PRIVILEGE
Accusations of DOUBLE STANDARDS and HYPOCRISY are:
1) mundane - no one is perfectly consistent in their views
2) isolated - one instance of hypocrisy doesn't prove a narrative
3) whiny - they just are, it's loser-talk
Accusations of DOUBLE STANDARDS and HYPOCRISY are:
1) mundane - no one is perfectly consistent in their views
2) isolated - one instance of hypocrisy doesn't prove a narrative
3) whiny - they just are, it's loser-talk
PROGRESSIVE PRIVILEGE, on the other hand, has punch
1) novel - the left is used to owning the word "privilege," it catches attention
2) systematic - instances of hypocrisy feed into a broader narrative
3) high ground maneuver - you are positioned against inequality generally
1) novel - the left is used to owning the word "privilege," it catches attention
2) systematic - instances of hypocrisy feed into a broader narrative
3) high ground maneuver - you are positioned against inequality generally
this guy gets it
I also discuss pro-life rhetorical strategy in another thread
Better to co-opt with things like #magaphobia
I don't use the word islamophobia, but they've done the work to make it stick
So sidestep and attack on a different front
I don't use the word islamophobia, but they've done the work to make it stick
So sidestep and attack on a different front
