# You know what I hate? How the word empowerment lost its original use and context **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 28, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678 "2018-01-28T21:44:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/221 "2018-01-30T15:59:03Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > To the degree she’s right, it’s because insults, attacks, intimidation and calls for my banning haven’t worked, so laughter and mockery is the only defense they have left. Those don’t work either but at least they’re comforting, the others result only in frustration. > > FWIW, my admittedly abrasive posting style is a direct result of the treatment I received when I first came onto the board. No one who knows me in real life would ever recognize me from the way I post here. But, when surrounded by wolves, allowing oneself to be intimidated is not the answer. For many months I tried being polite and engaging people in honest conversation. Insults, mockery, obfuscation and dishonesty were I got for my trouble. So I decided to fight fire with fire and now I just state what I have to say forthrightly and let the chips fall where they may. Starving, you seem to forget that this board is mainly geared toward skeptics. “Fighting ignorance” means we place more value on verifiable facts and data, not opinions passed as fact. You make some outrageous claims every once in a while that we feel we need to question. You said a while back liberals want everybody to wear less exciting clothing with drab colors. I didn’t understand how you got that idea, and you didn’t offer any supporting cites. You make a lot of sensational claims about liberal thinking that simply do not ring true, and you offer no explanation for how you came to such opinions. You just seem to accept such notions as established fact, and we wonder if you’re exposing yourself to toxic opinion sources. You also don’t seem to understand what’s going on in the present day, and think maxims from 30-50 years ago should apply. That’s why you’re getting negative feedback. It’s not liberal boogeymen trying to ruin your life. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/222 "2018-01-30T16:07:12Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > You all wanna know another conservative value I have? Fine lower taxes as they create more incentive for people to work, save, invest, and engage in entrepreneurial endeavors. Have you noticed the conversation gets more productive when you switch from “SJW, BLM, Identity politics, etc.” and move to tax policy, infrastructure, health care, LGBTQ rights and other real political issues. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/223 "2018-01-30T16:39:53Z")
Yeah, the whole “liberal assertions” is a dead giveaway that our boy is an alt-righty trying to play the “Oh no, I’m actually \, I’m _Just Asking Questions_.” Lucy, Just Asking Questions, or JAQing off, is a disingenuous way to play your hand that borders on trolling. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/224 "2018-01-30T16:42:28Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Yeah, the whole “liberal assertions” is a dead giveaway that our boy is an alt-righty trying to play the “Oh no, I’m actually \, I’m _Just Asking Questions_.” > > Lucy, Just Asking Questions, or JAQing off, is a disingenuous way to play your hand that borders on trolling. Oh for fuck sake’s, I wouldn’t be qualified enough to be an alt-righter to some of those lunatics anyways if I wanted to. > [@Procrustus](#): > > Have you noticed the conversation gets more productive when you switch from “SJW, BLM, Identity politics, etc.” and move to tax policy, infrastructure, health care, LGBTQ rights and other real political issues. More serious you mean? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/225 "2018-01-30T16:49:05Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Oh for fuck sake’s, I wouldn’t be qualified enough to be an alt-righter to some of those lunatics anyways if I wanted to. Dude, I know a guy from fucking INDIA, who changed his name to a generic all-american name and is seriously alt-right. You talk just like them and throw out the same buzzwords. Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck… ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/226 "2018-01-30T17:27:13Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Dude, I know a guy from fucking INDIA, who changed his name to a generic all-american name and is seriously alt-right. > > You talk just like them and throw out the same buzzwords. Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck… Remember, whatever is the dominant culture is what I go against. Our education, our music, our sports, our clothes, etc Just look at the Grammy’s, I didn’t watch them and even I knew they were gonna be a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/227 "2018-01-30T17:42:08Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Remember, whatever is the dominant culture is what I go against. Well that’s a goddamned stupid personal philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/228 "2018-01-30T17:52:59Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Remember, whatever is the dominant culture is what I go against. What if the dominant culture was “going against the dominant culture”? Then what would you do? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/229 "2018-01-30T17:55:02Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Well that’s a goddamned stupid personal philosophy. But so common for teenagers. I think at that age you’re trying to define yourself largely by what you aren’t. You rebel against everything because you’ve just figured out you’re allowed to rebel at all. Unless you’re me. I was angelic. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/230 "2018-01-30T17:59:23Z")
[So original in her black lipstick Listening to some obscure band But isn’t she pissed at all the other non-conformists who listen to that same obscure band](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GmBclph0jI) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/231 "2018-01-30T18:21:59Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > What if the dominant culture was “going against the dominant culture”? Then what would you do? [It would be messy](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LogicBomb). ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/232 "2018-01-30T18:22:25Z")
**Chimera** FTW. I was going with: [Oh baby, look at you Don’t you dance like Siouxsie Sioux How long did it take to get that way Such a terrible waste of energy](https://youtu.be/hVGhHdRZJZc) (…but then, I _was_ that wannagoth at 16.) . ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/233 "2018-01-30T18:25:17Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Unless you’re me. I was angelic. It’s ALWAYS the quiet ones. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/234 "2018-01-30T18:26:19Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Remember, whatever is the dominant culture is what I go against. > Our education, our music, our sports, our clothes, etc Yep. Typical. Rebel without a clue. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/235 "2018-01-30T18:26:30Z")
Lately we seem to have too many kids here. You want philosophy, I’ll give you my personal philosophy: when you get to a certain age, you feel you’ve dealt with enough poopy diapers to last a lifetime. You feel you deserve to associate with like-minded mature adults. Having to deal with somebody else’s kid’s metaphorical poopy diapers sometimes just seems like an unfair imposition. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/236 "2018-01-30T18:32:47Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Lately we seem to have too many kids here. You want philosophy, I’ll give you my personal philosophy: when you get to a certain age, you feel you’ve dealt with enough poopy diapers to last a lifetime. You feel you deserve to associate with like-minded mature adults. Having to deal with somebody else’s kid’s metaphorical poopy diapers sometimes just seems like an unfair imposition. I’m not exactly thrilled about having to deal with some of the incontinent adults around here either. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/237 "2018-01-30T18:43:24Z")
Hey, I’m not fat enough to be my own continent. But your momma… ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/238 "2018-01-30T18:47:11Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Hey, I’m not fat enough to be my own continent. But your momma… Hey now! She’s on a strict see food diet. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/239 "2018-01-31T01:01:36Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Hey, I’m not fat enough to be my own continent. But your momma… Could you call her home? She’s _sitting around my house…_ ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/240 "2018-01-31T01:05:04Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > You said a while back liberals want everybody to wear less exciting clothing with drab colors Jesus Christ, when the fuck was that? That’s hilarious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678.md?page=13)