My dad used to be on 4Chan all the time in the 2000s, he told me being called a fag was considered a form of endearment, not an insult. I’ve never heard newfag or oldfag be used by the far right, they typically go for actual insults instead.
“fag” is a homophobic slur that was actually even more hurtful to use back in the early 2000s when LGBT people were a lot less accepted by society than today. That said your Dad is technically correct and it was a “term of endearment” among homophobes on 4chan which was largely comprised of straight white men in college had/has a self-deprecating sense of humor.
My dad used to be on 4Chan all the time in the 2000s, he told me being called a fag was considered a form of endearment, not an insult. I’ve never heard newfag or oldfag be used by the far right, they typically go for actual insults instead.
“fag” is a homophobic slur that was actually even more hurtful to use back in the early 2000s when LGBT people were a lot less accepted by society than today. That said your Dad is technically correct and it was a “term of endearment” among homophobes on 4chan which was largely comprised of straight white men in college had/has a self-deprecating sense of humor.
There was definately a tone shift when the site was bought. People were usually mocked if they were actually right wing over there.