Thread by @owenbroadcast

in terms of zeitgeist studies and how terms function now this is a really good example of the phenomenon wherein something is given a name, the name is itself exaggerated or not literal, so then criticism of that thing, thusly named, can be dismissed, based on the name it got.

https://twitter.com/blckd_com_pilld/status/1384564475462815744

regardless of the informational content or who is correct there, thats just a great example. its like a natural self defense mechanism that “the spectacle” spontaneously generates. “oh, you think you were literally ‘locked down’? like someone locked you in your house? really?”.

within your own political interests you can probably notice this happening for more contentious issues. theyll say youre concerned about five alarm chili, and then when you try and talk about it theyll say, “really? you think the chili literally has five alarms? where? what?”.

this is why u have to unpack or stop all meme terms if u ever try to have a productive or even purely self defensive conversation w anyone. irl or when people ask me i always stop + ask what is meant by any and all meme terms if theyre trying to “take it there”. (also internally)

this is happening rn w at least one other big issue. really it happens all the time. the bonus is that then if you try to go around it and talk about the actual issue, you cant. theyll say, oh, you dont see it this way, but others do, theyre who im talking about. its impenetrable