# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/21 "2018-01-28T22:42:18Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > There are a lot of words that SJWism has ruined the meaning of. “Racism”, “Sexism”, “Misogyny”, “Rape”, “Sexual Assault”, etc., etc. > > Nothing is ever bad enough on its own to the SJW crowd, so everything has to be exaggerated to the greatest possible extent so as to make it 'teh. worst. thing. evar!". > > So tiresome and silly…and ultimately counter-productive. Such fantasy people are indeed terrible, but thankfully they don’t really exist except for a very, very few fringe figures, and prominently in the delusions of right wing infotainers. I know dozens or hundreds of liberals, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever met anyone who believes any of these things that you constantly claim liberals believe. ---
**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 28, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/22 "2018-01-28T22:44:35Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Let me tell you all something. I been studying sociology for the last 2 years, this has let me understand the social world from a better perspective. You have to realize, most of the posters here have been doing…well…_everything_ for more than 2 years. The average age here is probably well north of 30. There are probably people here who have been _teaching_ social sciences longer than your _parents_ have been alive. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/23 "2018-01-28T22:46:45Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > There are a lot of words that SJWism has ruined the meaning of. “Racism”, “Sexism”, “Misogyny”, “Rape”, “Sexual Assault”, etc., etc. > > Nothing is ever bad enough on its own to the SJW crowd, so everything has to be exaggerated to the greatest possible extent so as to make it 'teh. worst. thing. evar!". > > So tiresome and silly…and ultimately counter-productive. America is basically going through Civil Rights Era 2.5 at this point. Well really since 2009. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/24 "2018-01-28T22:51:38Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > You have to realize, most of the posters here have been doing…well…_everything_ for more than 2 years. The average age here is probably well north of 30. There are probably people here who have been _teaching_ social sciences longer than your _parents_ have been alive. I figured. But really I also been traveling the forum universe for more than 5 years. 8 years in counting.[some of the forums I started off were from Nickelodeon and CN lol]. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/25 "2018-01-28T22:55:49Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > There are a lot of words that SJWism has ruined the meaning of. “Racism”, “Sexism”, “Misogyny”, “Rape”, “Sexual Assault”, etc., etc. > > Nothing is ever bad enough on its own to the SJW crowd, so everything has to be exaggerated to the greatest possible extent so as to make it 'teh. worst. thing. evar!". > > So tiresome and silly…and ultimately counter-productive. OP, you should listen to this man. He’s extremely wise and well-regarded, and I’m sure he’d be very, _very_ excited at the chance to mentor a curious young lad such as yourself. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/26 "2018-01-28T22:56:04Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > I agree this is mostly internet stuff. I am just tired of watering down of the word. That speaks a lot of volume for the rise of identity politics in our culture. On a scale of 1-10, how full of shit is it that a 16 yr old non-native english speaker is “tired of watering down the word”? Give me a number. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/27 "2018-01-28T23:00:13Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > On a scale of 1-10, how full of shit is it that a 16 yr old non-native english speaker is “tired of watering down the word”? Give me a number. -1 ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/28 "2018-01-28T23:01:47Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > OP, you should listen to this man. He’s extremely wise and well-regarded, and I’m sure he’d be very, _very_ excited at the chance to mentor a curious young lad such as yourself. Alright. Thank you, finally a way to keep getting my curiosity going. When did this most of this sjw stuff even begin in the first place? I started hearing it just 3 or 4 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/29 "2018-01-28T23:05:18Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Such fantasy people are indeed terrible, but thankfully they don’t really exist except for a very, very few fringe figures, and prominently in the delusions of right wing infotainers. > > I know dozens or hundreds of liberals, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever met anyone who believes any of these things that you constantly claim liberals believe. A teacher in my school sure acts like one of them. Not even kidding. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/30 "2018-01-28T23:12:59Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > A teacher in my school sure acts like one of them. Not even kidding. Maybe you met one of the very few, or maybe you’re misunderstanding their beliefs. Based on your posts so far, I suspect the latter. If you’d care to delve deeper, name a specific assertion by a specific person that bothers you, and I’ll give you my take. I don’t represent all liberals, but I think I’ve got a pretty good idea about mainstream liberal thought in America. ---
**Author:** ![SaneBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SaneBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaneBill)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/31 "2018-01-28T23:16:56Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Nothing is ever bad enough on its own to the SJW crowd, so everything has to be exaggerated to the greatest possible extent so as to make it 'teh. worst. thing. evar!". This reminds me of an old, old joke. You all know what I mean… ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/32 "2018-01-28T23:20:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Maybe you met one of the very few, or maybe you’re misunderstanding their beliefs. Based on your posts so far, I suspect the latter. > > If you’d care to delve deeper, name a specific assertion by a specific person that bothers you, and I’ll give you my take. I don’t represent all liberals, but I think I’ve got a pretty good idea about mainstream liberal thought in America. Not something coming from someome specific, but I do wonder this Why do most liberals seem to love Alexander Hamilton? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/33 "2018-01-28T23:25:24Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Thanks to the rise of SJW culture, empowerment doesn’t really apply anymore to people who are bullied for instance or socially akward. Empowerment now only applies to certain demographics regardless if you’re marginalized or not. > > Now taking nude selfies is considered empowerment, commiting crimes is considered empowerment, bitching and whining is considered empowerment. > > Wtf? > It has become the buzzword version of motivation now and is just sad. > > [From shopping to naked selfies: how 'empowerment' lost its meaning | Feminism | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/19/from-shopping-to-naked-selfies-how-empowerment-lost-its-meaning-feminism) > > Thnx rise of cultural Marxism. Is only a matter of time before punching a wall is considered bullying. Thanks, Trump. Look what you’ve done to America’s kids- They’re all fucked in their heads _without_ drugs! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/34 "2018-01-28T23:28:51Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Not something coming from someome specific, but I do wonder this > Why do most liberals seem to love Alexander Hamilton? I’m not aware that most liberals do (unless you’re just talking about the Broadway musical). I’m a fan of his support for the abolition of slavery, which was somewhat rare in early America, but I don’t agree with every single one of his views. What does Hamilton have to do with the topic of this thread? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/35 "2018-01-28T23:29:04Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > -1 Uh huh. I put it at a hard 9. Why don’t you go back to your own country and complain about “gracias” or something. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/36 "2018-01-28T23:35:24Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m not aware that most liberals do (unless you’re just talking about the Broadway musical). I’m a fan of his support for the abolition of slavery, which was somewhat rare in early America, but I don’t agree with every single one of his views. What does Hamilton have to do with the topic of this thread? Well something something curious about the fascination. I thought it had to do way more than that. Next question: Why is college rape such a big deal even though is not that bad? ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/37 "2018-01-28T23:36:29Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Uh huh. I put it at a hard 9. Why don’t you go back to your own country and complain about “gracias” or something. ?que? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/38 "2018-01-28T23:37:51Z")
This was kind of implied in the welcome thread, but I will just say it. I liked the first 699 Lucianos better. > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > There are a lot of words that SJWism has ruined the meaning of. “Racism”, “Sexism”, “Misogyny”, “Rape”, “Sexual Assault”, etc., etc. Like how the definition of rape and sexual assault has been unacceptably broadened to cover Joe Paterno’s football program? ---
**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:** [January 28, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/39 "2018-01-28T23:40:12Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Well something something curious about the fascination. I thought it had to do way more than that. > Next question: Why is college rape such a big deal even though is not that bad? What the actual fuck? Okay, let’s start slow. Rape is bad whether it is on a college campus or a back alley. Can you agree to that? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/40 "2018-01-28T23:40:42Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > Well something something curious about the fascination. I thought it had to do way more than that. > Next question: Why is college rape such a big deal even though is not that bad? Do you even know what these words mean or you just trolling? [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=1) [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=3)