# 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:** 13
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/241 "2018-01-31T01:06:27Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Hey, I’m not fat enough to be my own continent. But your momma… She’s planning to take a spoon to the Superbowl. ---
**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 31, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/242 "2018-01-31T01:13:25Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > 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. (NSFW) [These liberals?](https://www.google.com/search?q=gay+pride+parade&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyqqnWgYHZAhVC4GMKHUS3AkQQ_AUICigB&biw=1536&bih=734#imgrc=_) [Or maybe just this one?](https://www.google.com/search?q=gay+pride+parade&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyqqnWgYHZAhVC4GMKHUS3AkQQ_AUICigB&biw=1536&bih=734#imgdii=BqNZYr__xQkkNM:&imgrc=t7wswqfGLykSkM:) ---
**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 31, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/243 "2018-01-31T01:43:48Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Jesus Christ, when the fuck was that? That’s hilarious. Somewhere in the Stupid Liberal thread I think. Just before when he said liberal values were the reason why the US has so many poor people and criminals. You know, because we took prayer out of public schools and shit. ---
**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 31, 2018, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/244 "2018-01-31T01:47:00Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > (NSFW) > > [These liberals?](https://www.google.com/search?q=gay+pride+parade&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyqqnWgYHZAhVC4GMKHUS3AkQQ_AUICigB&biw=1536&bih=734#imgrc=_) > > [Or maybe just this one?](https://www.google.com/search?q=gay+pride+parade&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyqqnWgYHZAhVC4GMKHUS3AkQQ_AUICigB&biw=1536&bih=734#imgdii=BqNZYr__xQkkNM:&imgrc=t7wswqfGLykSkM:) Careful, you’ll give him a heart attack! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/245 "2018-01-31T04:39:44Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > It’s been my discovery that many of this board’s conservatives are genuinely decent people. **Bricker** , **Clothahump** , **Starving Artist** and so on are seemingly likeable people. I’ll spot you **Bricker** , when he’s not being LawBot5000, but I’m going to need to see cites for the other two… ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2018, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/246 "2018-01-31T04:42:55Z")
I recall someone saying Clothy is a decent guy in person, as long as you don’t talk politics. Personally, I can’t see how he could get through a dopefest without calling half the attendees morons, since he can’t respond to anything here without doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/247 "2018-02-01T01:46:17Z")
Well to the best of luck I wish this can country can better its political culture. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/248 "2018-02-01T02:16:40Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Well to the best of luck I wish this can country can better its political culture. [Yes we can can!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db-uqKLH-Bw) ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/249 "2018-02-01T02:27:10Z")
As for the word empowerment. I am gonna just say this again in a better. And is my opinion, but I am fine if you disagree with it According to some people[I am saying “some people” to show I am not biased] The word empowerment can only be used if you’re a minority or gay or trans or female or whatever other opressed class is out there. There is a definition to match this logic, but it doesn’t matter what you are. What about introverts, they don’t need empowerment? What about the socially awkward, they don’t need empowerment? What about the homeless? What about people were sexually abused as kids? You can a Christian straight white cis neurotypical able bodied male and still have one of these 3 problems in you. And if you do, I say you deserve empowerment. Empowerment doesn’t apply the other way around. Yes there is something known as “empowering your rights”, but the original context has always been that. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2018, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/250 "2018-02-01T02:32:36Z")
“Some” people are morons. In fact, I can think of 62,979,636 people who are morons. So there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/251 "2018-02-01T02:35:17Z")
We are not “some people.” Please address your complaints to the appropriate parties. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/252 "2018-02-01T02:38:30Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > As for the word empowerment. I am gonna just say this again in a better. And is my opinion, but I am fine if you disagree with it > > According to some people[I am saying “some people” to show I am not biased] > > The word empowerment can only be used if you’re a minority or gay or trans or female or whatever other opressed class is out there. > There is a definition to match this logic, but it doesn’t matter what you are. > What about introverts, they don’t need empowerment? What about the socially awkward, they don’t need empowerment? What about the homeless? What about people were sexually abused as kids? > > You can a Christian straight white cis neurotypical able bodied male and still have one of these 3 problems in you. And if you do, I say you deserve empowerment. > > Empowerment doesn’t apply the other way around. > Yes there is something known as “empowering your rights”, but the original context has always been that. And take me an autistic person, yes I been bullied/harassed/targeted exclusively for autism before, almost even got assaulted back in 4th grade. However, on the other hand I don’t like to say it that I am empowering myself in the case of being autistic, I do it in the case that I am shy around people, that I need to have better social skills, improving my character, etc. And yes being autistic may play a role. But I don’t like to say it that way. And also I could say empowering myself=embracing my masculinity. Is kind of funny, if you’re one opressed class and still male you can use the “embracing my masculinity” card in the source of empowerment, is just a funny way to me of using the empowerment card. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/253 "2018-02-01T02:49:13Z")
**Luciano700** , please consider consulting a dictionary and familiarizing yourself with the meanings of a few words, including: 1. Shibboleth 2. Buzzword 3. Straw man 4. Dogwhistle Then spend some time contemplating the meanings of the words/terms with respect to your use of “empowerment” in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/254 "2018-02-01T03:02:42Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > As for the word empowerment. I am gonna just say this again in a better. And is my opinion, but I am fine if you disagree with it. “Empowerment” as a concept has been around a while. I’ve been in corporate “empowerment” meetings. As I said in those, I’m always empowered. Why? Because I’m an arrogant asshole who is always willing to speak up, no matter who is in the room. And I’ve paid for it in warnings (usually bullshit retaliatory warnings for other things, made clear that it is because I spoke up) and occasionally being fired. I’m ok with that, most people are not. But empowerment in a business setting is fraught with peril, because while they may say that they want you to speak up, the truth is that they don’t want you to speak up about 99% of the things you might think to speak up about. Empowerment in life is learning to be more aggressive in speaking out for your own interests. Again, as in business, this can be fraught with peril. People shove you in a box, or learn at a young age that you belong in that box, and when you try to step out of it, some people will try to crush your soul and destroy you for daring to step out of where and what they think you should be. Two heterosexual people can be quite friendly in public or on TV and there’s nothing wrong with it. Two gay people do it and the media gets flooded with people complaining about it being “shoved in their faces”. A middle aged white guy like I am now can get away with screaming and ranting in public and the most that will happen is that I get talked to by police and told to stop. A black man doing the same is risking his life. A TV show can be all christiany and full of God, but have one atheist on the show and you’re shoving deviltry in their faces. I recently bought Batman: Bad Blood. Good movie, btw. But in the reviews, there were a handful of complaints about shoving lesbianism in people’s faces. There were two women in the movie who were attracted to each other. They never touched in an affectionate manner or kissed. But the fact that there were two lesbians in the movie set off people who were incensed and wanted it removed. Because they’re the conservative types who demand that we all stay in the boxes they created for us. So I’ll say it again: Empowerment is learning to speak up in your own self-interests or in other interests. For the latter, let me give you an example; Back in about 1988-1991, I worked for a small insurance company. I spent about six months on the Employee Council. At one of our meetings, the CFO came in, ranting and badmouthing the employees and how much we were costing the company for our insurance. He said they were going to seriously raise the prices on our policies and “if this group wasn’t our employees, we’d refuse to cover them”. :eek: Everyone else in the room was stunned to silence and NO ONE wanted to gainsay the CFO of the company. I did. I told him that people who worked for Target got discounts at Target. People who worked at the airlines got cheap tickets. We worked for an insurance company. What would it say about our company if we were to announce, as he had, that our own employees were a problem, raise our rates and then some of our employees found that they could get cheaper insurance through their spouses companies? How would that look, PR wise, let alone how it affected employee morale? As he left the meeting, I followed him, got on the elevator with him (I had to take the same elevator back to my floor, two below his) and talked about it further. Everyone else in the meeting fled like I was on fire and not a one of them got in the elevator with us. You know what happened? They didn’t raise our rates. I had convinced the CFO of our company that it was a bad idea. Because I am self-empowered to speak up despite the risks. You can’t make someone be empowered. Many people don’t want the risks, the danger, the attention. But you can help people who need to speak up, you can assist their empowerment. By accepting that they have a right to protect their own interests, that they have the right to step out of the boxes other people insist they stay in and decide for themselves where they belong and who they are. And again, it comes down to my personal philosophy; _**Which is better for us, as society and as individuals? That we should be who we are? Or that we should be forced to be who we are not, for the comfort of the small minded?**_ ---
**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:** [February 1, 2018, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/255 "2018-02-01T03:22:57Z")
Luc, you don’t have to type so fast. You are leaving words out and misspelling many words. You can type slower, we ain’t going anywhere. Don’t be tempted into ’ empowering ’ yourself so much that you end up friendless and alone in highschool. Temper your urges to scream at every tiny slight. Save your crusade for the big things. Try to be a well rounded individual. You’re young there’s plenty of time to right the wrongs. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/256 "2018-02-01T03:31:36Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > “Empowerment” as a concept has been around a while. I’ve been in corporate “empowerment” meetings. > > As I said in those, I’m always empowered. Why? Because I’m an arrogant asshole who is always willing to speak up, no matter who is in the room. And I’ve paid for it in warnings (usually bullshit retaliatory warnings for other things, made clear that it is because I spoke up) and occasionally being fired. I’m ok with that, most people are not. > > But empowerment in a business setting is fraught with peril, because while they may say that they want you to speak up, the truth is that they don’t want you to speak up about 99% of the things you might think to speak up about. > > Empowerment in life is learning to be more aggressive in speaking out for your own interests. Again, as in business, this can be fraught with peril. People shove you in a box, or learn at a young age that you belong in that box, and when you try to step out of it, some people will try to crush your soul and destroy you for daring to step out of where and what they think you should be. > > Two heterosexual people can be quite friendly in public or on TV and there’s nothing wrong with it. Two gay people do it and the media gets flooded with people complaining about it being “shoved in their faces”. A middle aged white guy like I am now can get away with screaming and ranting in public and the most that will happen is that I get talked to by police and told to stop. A black man doing the same is risking his life. A TV show can be all christiany and full of God, but have one atheist on the show and you’re shoving deviltry in their faces. > > I recently bought Batman: Bad Blood. Good movie, btw. But in the reviews, there were a handful of complaints about shoving lesbianism in people’s faces. There were two women in the movie who were attracted to each other. They never touched in an affectionate manner or kissed. But the fact that there were two lesbians in the movie set off people who were incensed and wanted it removed. Because they’re the conservative types who demand that we all stay in the boxes they created for us. > > So I’ll say it again: Empowerment is learning to speak up in your own self-interests or in other interests. For the latter, let me give you an example; > > Back in about 1988-1991, I worked for a small insurance company. I spent about six months on the Employee Council. At one of our meetings, the CFO came in, ranting and badmouthing the employees and how much we were costing the company for our insurance. He said they were going to seriously raise the prices on our policies and “if this group wasn’t our employees, we’d refuse to cover them”. :eek: Everyone else in the room was stunned to silence and NO ONE wanted to gainsay the CFO of the company. I did. I told him that people who worked for Target got discounts at Target. People who worked at the airlines got cheap tickets. We worked for an insurance company. What would it say about our company if we were to announce, as he had, that our own employees were a problem, raise our rates and then some of our employees found that they could get cheaper insurance through their spouses companies? How would that look, PR wise, let alone how it affected employee morale? > > As he left the meeting, I followed him, got on the elevator with him (I had to take the same elevator back to my floor, two below his) and talked about it further. Everyone else in the meeting fled like I was on fire and not a one of them got in the elevator with us. > > You know what happened? They didn’t raise our rates. I had convinced the CFO of our company that it was a bad idea. Because I am self-empowered to speak up despite the risks. > > You can’t make someone be empowered. Many people don’t want the risks, the danger, the attention. But you can help people who need to speak up, you can assist their empowerment. By accepting that they have a right to protect their own interests, that they have the right to step out of the boxes other people insist they stay in and decide for themselves where they belong and who they are. > > And again, it comes down to my personal philosophy; > > _**Which is better for us, as society and as individuals? > That we should be who we are? > Or that we should be forced to be who we are not, > for the comfort of the small minded?**_ Why is it ok for a women to be sexually liberated, but again checking out women gets called out for castration[in response to the ones about gay people and black people shouting out in the streets] Diversity is nothing new in television, is just more promoted than ever. Yes I think everyone should be themeselves, but some things just need questioning. For heck sake’s there is the Fat Acceptance movement going on, and even I as someone who experienced a lot of bullying for being overweight loathe it. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/257 "2018-02-01T03:33:28Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Luc, you don’t have to type so fast. You are leaving words out and misspelling many words. You can type slower, we ain’t going anywhere. > Don’t be tempted into ’ empowering ’ yourself so much that you end up friendless and alone in highschool. Temper your urges to scream at every tiny slight. Save your crusade for the big things. Try to be a well rounded individual. You’re young there’s plenty of time to right the wrongs. Every human being is imperfect 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/258 "2018-02-01T03:37:06Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Why is it ok for a women to be sexually liberated, but again checking out women gets called out for castration[in response to the ones about gay people and black people shouting out in the streets First of all, don’t quote an entire block of text like that, please. Secondly, I have no clue what the above is trying to say. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/259 "2018-02-01T04:03:48Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > First of all, don’t quote an entire block of text like that, please. > > Secondly, I have no clue what the above is trying to say. In other words Female sexuality= Liberated, good, Male sexuality= Bad, evil ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/260 "2018-02-01T04:08:08Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > In other words > > Female sexuality= Liberated, good, > > Male sexuality= Bad, evil Nope, not at all. Males harassing or assaulting females = bad Women understanding what they want and that they’re allowed to have it = good There’s a big difference between checking women out and making cat calls, inviting them to suck your dick, flashing them or the like. Any woman who says she wants to castrate men who merely look at her is mentally ill and should not be misinterpreted as being a larger sample. [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=12) [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=14)