Spinster Aunt 1 hour ago
Thanks for the wiki on this. I have heard the term (used only ever pejoratively,) but have never met someone who identified as such-- so I have felt like I was truly sure who these elusive "SJW" creatures were. Since wiki made clear the "pursuing personal validation rather than any deep-seated conviction," that makes sense to me, of who and what is being discussed at least in terms of the useage in America. There may be people outside the US who act the way this meaning articulates, but probably (hopefully?) not many! However, as is typical in the USA the meaning of things quickly become diluted and meaningless through improper use/overuse. The term is now being lobbed at anyone who values things like academia, notions of honor and polite behavior, mercy, compassion, teamwork, excellence of speech and demeanor... most of the "old ways" I was taught were proper behaviors, are now considered effete; weak, wrong-headed and simple-minded. It's really to a point where, if a person will stoop to pick up a piece of trash and put it in a wastebin, another sort of person will come along, throw trash down, sneer, and say, "There, get to work you ****ing 'Social Justice Warrior'!" So, even tho' the useage in this video is speaking of something else than what I've just described, (I'm thinking maybe the video is addressing what could also be called typical neoliberal arrogance,) both useages are indicative of some very inefficient behaviors when it comes to the greater dialectic between cultures, races, classes, and so on. It seems to me Americans could use a refresher course on the basic skills of decency and respect for others! Then again, this is the nation that, when the UK spelled it "grey" we had to spell "gray" and if the UK spelled "colour", we had to spell "color". If the UK drives forward on the left side of the road, we must do it on the right. Just to prove we're different. Better. "Not Like You". And yet, to this day, the most-watched television program ever in the US, is likely the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Di. So, we've been imbeciles, narcissists, gaslighters and SJWs (Jennifer/non-US useage!) from the start! Thank you, Jennifer, for another thought-provoking and well-spoken video, even with all the goings on outside!
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And thank you for your comment. The video I have just uploaded also clarifies more my specific ways of using terminology and my philosophy regarding the way I employ terms. There is a problem, of course, with the American corruption of language away from having any specific meaning to indicating only emotional states. I could go back to giving my videos very bland labels like, "What I thought today" or "This is how it is." That would get around the problem of the American corruption of our English language, but I can't always do that. All I can ask is for those who have an emotional reaction to something I have said to try to restrain themselves and think about what I am saying, which is usually well-thought through. The opposite attitude would be to lecture me about my use of language or topic or ideas without really having taken the time or trouble to understand them. This too is an emotional reaction. I wonder who it was that downvoted my "aristocracy" video, as I thought it was very well-balanced, moreover historically factual, but I think this is another example of being downvoting words and terms because of their emotional reactions to them, rather than taking the time to articulate clearly what they think or feel. I do consider that attitude to have the same effect as a minor act of vandalism.
