I get that. That’s why I made a comparison to the term “gay”, which is also frequently used as an insult without actually trying to refer to homosexual people.
I think the literal meaning matters, especially when being a (literal) incel is still something many are insecure about.
That’s what makes it different to e.g. the term “bastard”. That term also refers to a specific group, but nowadays noone (in the western world) would be insecure about being born to umarried parents.
As long as involuntary celibacy is something people are insecure about, we shouldn’t use “incel” as an insult.
The idea that being an incel is just about not having sex is something that is pushed heavily by incel culture. It’s propaganda. That’s the same culture, by the way, that believes that women’s worth comes from their sexual value and that women marry up based on pseudoscientific bone structure analysis. It’s a whole worldview and people who are just sad about being virgins should not be identifying with incels. The normalization of incel culture that muddies the waters on this is insidious and destructive.
Because they already use this term for themselves and their weird misogynistic culture centered around their personalities being too repulsive to get them laid.
I agree that it’s not the same. That wasn’t what I was trying to say; I’m sorry if my phrasing was unclear.
The reason I made the comparison is that it’s very clear that using “gay” as an insult is bad (because of the severe discrimination you mentioned), and so I was using it as a more extreme example of an insult that refers to a specific group of people.
Using “incel” as an insult is not as clearly bad (because involuntary celibates haven’t faced the discrimination that homosexuals have), yet it follows a similar paradigm, hence why I made the comparison.
If there’s a large amount of people insecure about being born to unmarried parents that I simply haven’t encountered or heard of, I’d be perfectly willing to quit using the term “bastard” as an insult, too.
I get that. That’s why I made a comparison to the term “gay”, which is also frequently used as an insult without actually trying to refer to homosexual people.
I think the literal meaning matters, especially when being a (literal) incel is still something many are insecure about.
That’s what makes it different to e.g. the term “bastard”. That term also refers to a specific group, but nowadays noone (in the western world) would be insecure about being born to umarried parents.
As long as involuntary celibacy is something people are insecure about, we shouldn’t use “incel” as an insult.
The idea that being an incel is just about not having sex is something that is pushed heavily by incel culture. It’s propaganda. That’s the same culture, by the way, that believes that women’s worth comes from their sexual value and that women marry up based on pseudoscientific bone structure analysis. It’s a whole worldview and people who are just sad about being virgins should not be identifying with incels. The normalization of incel culture that muddies the waters on this is insidious and destructive.
Why not just use another term, like “radical misogynist”?
You can call them anything you want. If you want people to know what movement you’re referring to, you’re going to need to call them incels.
Because they already use this term for themselves and their weird misogynistic culture centered around their personalities being too repulsive to get them laid.
because they don’t skateboard
It’s not the same as using gay as an insult, wtf. There’s s long history of systematic discrimination and even murder when it comes to LGBT people.
I agree that it’s not the same. That wasn’t what I was trying to say; I’m sorry if my phrasing was unclear.
The reason I made the comparison is that it’s very clear that using “gay” as an insult is bad (because of the severe discrimination you mentioned), and so I was using it as a more extreme example of an insult that refers to a specific group of people.
Using “incel” as an insult is not as clearly bad (because involuntary celibates haven’t faced the discrimination that homosexuals have), yet it follows a similar paradigm, hence why I made the comparison.
How tf do you know who is insecure about what?
I talk to people, I partake in society.
If there’s a large amount of people insecure about being born to unmarried parents that I simply haven’t encountered or heard of, I’d be perfectly willing to quit using the term “bastard” as an insult, too.