# "Illegals" and "invaders" should be moderated as hate speech in the context of immigration debates **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 9, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegals-and-invaders-should-be-moderated-as-hate-speech-in-the-context-of-immigration-debates/985244 "2023-06-09T15:31:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 12
**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:** [June 9, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegals-and-invaders-should-be-moderated-as-hate-speech-in-the-context-of-immigration-debates/985244/12 "2023-06-09T16:22:45Z")
Join me the agreement camp with @Left_Hand_of_Dorkness. I find illegal immigrants to be a loaded, term _as it’s usually applied_ but at least it’s at least a vaguely legitimate descriptor. The second, “illegals” is not only loaded, but used in a way that is almost always negative, dismissive, and always fails to take into account the actual status (asylum seekers, etc) of the people involved. Invaders is right out, othering, and violently aggressive. In a side thread related to the discussion of this topic, I pulled up one of the most recent discussions of hate speech: > [@Clarification of rule against hate speech](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarification-of-rule-against-hate-speech/964634): > > The staff would like to clarify the SDMB’s long-standing rule against hate speech and our views on racist speech on the SDMB generally. Hate speech – that is, racial epithets and other pejorative remarks about minorities that in our opinion are clearly racist – is prohibited in all forums. If you see instances of hate speech on the SDMB, please flag the post and we will take such action as we think appropriate. Not all pejorative comments about minorities rise to the level of hate speech o… And feel, as does the OP, we should revisit this one. A quote from @Ed_Zotti in that thread - > **No slurs or racist cheap shots.** Do not post slurs or other cheap shots against minorities, including but not limited to groups characterized by race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, or gender orientation. At a minimum, invaders is a cheap shot - and I know the board hates bright lines, but we might want to tone down the fuzziness a bit. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegals-and-invaders-should-be-moderated-as-hate-speech-in-the-context-of-immigration-debates/985244)._