• 420blazeit69 [he/him]@hexbear.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    8 months ago

    that has no useful content

    The useful content is I can say “liberal” to about anyone in the U.S. and they will know I’m referring to a set of policies broadly under the umbrella of the Democratic Party. If I say “liberal” while referring to the GOP, most will not understand my usage.

    The fact that there are other definitions that (in the right context) are more precise, or useful, or coherent, does not mean the common definition isn’t real, or is incorrect. It’s how people use it; it’s a real definition. There is no reason to refuse to acknowledge it.

    • CyborgMarx [any, any]@hexbear.net
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      8 months ago

      they will know I’m referring set of policies broadly under the umbrella of the Democratic Party

      You mean the set of policies that’s anti-immigration today but was pro-immigration five years ago? That was anti-queer 15 years ago but is now kinda indifferent to queer people today even tho it was more pro-queer five years ago? The set of policies that was racist sixty years ago and is still pretty racist today, but people colloquially think it’s not anymore, unless you’re the wrong kind of POC?

      Yeah that’s a useful and coherent definition that totally isn’t hiding the true nature of liberalism behind a veneer

      I mean hey 75 million plus Trump loving dipshits believe liberalism under the Democratic Party is the new communism so it must be true. It’s how people use it, right? So it’s a real definition; like orks from 40k we can shift reality with our collective will, but apparently we still can’t shift the set of policies

      • 420blazeit69 [he/him]@hexbear.net
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        8 months ago

        I am not arguing that Democrats are good and have consistent politics.

        I’m also not going to argue any more on the premise that words are defined in part by how people actually use them. That’s just how language works.

        • CyborgMarx [any, any]@hexbear.net
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          8 months ago

          75 million Trump supporters believe liberalism is communism, go argue with them about “how language works” since you know it’s according to you just a numbers game