# I wish posters would stop using the term "MAGAt" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 12, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577 "2026-01-12T00:23:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/1 "2026-01-12T00:23:18Z")
This has been bothering me for some time. I’m not calling out any specific posters. The term is used by many in every political thread. And everyone knows what it means. They may not put much thought into it (Dopers?!) and think it’s just casual shorthand among friends. But it’s not. You know who else casually refers to their opposition as vermin? We should be better than that. Yes, MAGAs are deeply disturbed people, living in a hate-filled alternate reality. They should be called out and shamed. But as tensions ratchet up in this country, we should still not stoop to their level. Better angels and all that. Of course, I have no authority to tell anyone what they can or can’t post. I’m just posting this as a wish. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/2 "2026-01-12T00:26:07Z")
Well its easier for those that use it than typing Fascist and it is better than painting every Republican with the same brush. I can’t fault them. It is largely self identification with an extra T. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/3 "2026-01-12T00:27:47Z")
We had a HUGE thread on this a while back: > [@Why is calling Trump Supporters MAGAts allowed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-trump-supporters-magats-allowed/1005060): > > I see the use of MAGAts to refer to Trump supporters in many threads, generally P&E. It’s used pretty casually and it appears to be perfectly fine to say. Why? It’s clearly a homophone of maggot. It’s derogatory. Basically calling a whole subset of people animals. What gives? I’ve tried reading the rules, etc but not sure I found anything on point. The closest I found was in the rules for the P&E forum that said: The use of racial epithets, pejoratives, slurs, and other similar items is … With high road takers (like you), low road dwellers (including me, but for reasons), and a metric ton of arguments disputing the meaning of the term. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/4 "2026-01-12T00:28:21Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I can’t fault them. It is largely self identification with an extra T. Which reads as maggot. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/5 "2026-01-12T00:29:35Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > We had a HUGE thread on this a while back: Ah, apparently I missed that thread at the time. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/6 "2026-01-12T00:30:13Z")
I would rather be called a maggot than a Nazi, and many of those MAGA hat wearers are indeed neo-nazis. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/7 "2026-01-12T00:30:59Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > > [@ParallelLines](#): > > > > We had a HUGE thread on this a while back: > > Ah, apparently I missed that thread at the time. Nothing wrong with that, I didn’t mean to call you out or complain in any way, but figured it would be edifying! ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/8 "2026-01-12T00:32:14Z")
No problem. I’ll take a look at it. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/9 "2026-01-12T00:34:12Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > No problem. I’ll take a look at it You can save yourself a _lot_ of pain by just _not_ doing that. On the other hand if you find the idea of hundreds of back and forth posts where people honest to goodness try to defend the claim that MAGAt just means “MAGA Hat” entertaining then you could go ahead and read that thread. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/10 "2026-01-12T00:38:04Z")
Because “idiot and/or asshole” doesn’t fit on most hats. They want civility? Try being civil. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/11 "2026-01-12T00:38:20Z")
Seeing this thread title triggered minor PTSD because of that old thread. I don’t like MAGAt either and never use it but I don’t think there’s any way to stop it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/12 "2026-01-12T01:07:33Z")
Shows how I am, I thought it meant Maga Hat and morphed into the wearer of such a hat. So MAGAt. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/13 "2026-01-12T02:16:18Z")
Calling them “MAGA Idiots” is not a misuse of the word MAGAT, right? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/14 "2026-01-12T02:23:29Z")
I still like the term “Maggle” that came out of that old thread and forgot about it. I should try to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/15 "2026-01-12T02:23:58Z")
Hey, @Czarcasm did you ever get your purple hat? What were you wanting printed on it? Something funny…😃 can’t remember. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/16 "2026-01-12T02:27:11Z")
Thanks for remembering 😀 Never got it, and I wanted it to be grape purple and say: MAKE AMERICA GRAPE AGAIN ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/17 "2026-01-12T02:32:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Never got it, and I wanted it to be grape purple and say: > MAKE > AMERICA > GRAPE > AGAIN Memorializing The Grapist? Who, for those of you who don’t know, was an obnoxious poster who I believe was banned. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/18 "2026-01-12T02:32:14Z")
I don’t think I personally use the term, but … lemme’ tell ya’: I’m torn on this one. I’m not the only one who posts this, but I think we should occasionally be reminded of it: _“Nice people made the best Nazis. My mom grew up next to them. They got along, refused to make waves, looked the other way when things got ugly and focused on happier things than “politics.” They were lovely people who turned their heads as their neighbors were dragged away. You know who weren’t nice people? Resisters.”_ –Naomi Shulman ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/19 "2026-01-12T02:33:42Z")
If so, it is totally accidental. It is a total mockery of “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577/20 "2026-01-12T03:01:00Z")
I think if nothing else, it’s simply past by its use-by date, as happens with a lot of the cute epithets for Trump. Some of them are good while they’re fresh, but go stale very quickly. There is a stink of futility around ones that are overlong cherished. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wish-posters-would-stop-using-the-term-magat/1026577.md?page=2)