# 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:** 6
**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 29, 2018, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/101 "2018-01-29T07:52:50Z")
Well, better he find out early, so he knows enough to avoid him. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/102 "2018-01-29T09:04:35Z")
I forgot…which liberal meeting was it where we all decided that Whoopi Goldberg was the person who defined all words and phrases for us? ---
**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 29, 2018, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/103 "2018-01-29T10:25:13Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Really? Then why did Whoopi Goldberg feel the need to use the term “rape-rape” when talking about whether a sexual offense was actually, you know, rape? I’ll tell you exactly why. It’s because the term has been adopted by the SJW crowd to include any number of offenses that are not rape-rape in an effort to make them equally bad and equally punishable. As Sharon Stone was recently moved to remark, you don’t charge someone for murder when they get a parking ticket. (Naturally she came in for abuse from the SJW crowd, as did Matt Damon when he dared to remark that there is a spectrum when it comes to sexual offenses. Surely Stone and Damon and Goldberg got these ideas somewhere outside the right-wing infotainment sphere, would’t you think? The reality is that the behavior I described is everywhere in the country’s national dialog these days, and everyone except those intentionally wearing blinders knows it. > > Well, you wouldn’t know unless they voiced them. I know dozens or hundreds of conservatives and none of them have ever expressed the beliefs or attitudes that get attributed to them dozens or hundreds of times a day just on this board. So what has either of us proven with our observations? “Not much”, would be my answer. So a few idiots say idiotic things and that somehow reflects badly on liberals in general? What the hell are you talking about? And yes, of course some liberals, on this board and elsewhere, mischaracterized the beliefs of conservatives. That’s part of the trend I’m getting at - liberals understand liberalism better than conservatives, and conservatives understand conservatism better that liberals. What you’re describing is, at worst, silliness from a few idiots. It has nothing to do with my beliefs or the beliefs of most liberals. ---
**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 29, 2018, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/104 "2018-01-29T11:13:33Z")
I’ll just add that the idea that liberals believe that harassment, assault, groping, and rape are the same is bullshit. We’re entirely capable of criticizing Al Franken and Harvey Weinstein at the same time while recognizing that their misdeeds are very, very different. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/105 "2018-01-29T12:53:01Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Well, better he find out early, so he knows enough to avoid him. 's OK, he’s already too old for **Starving**. ---
**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 29, 2018, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/106 "2018-01-29T13:10:16Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I forgot…which liberal meeting was it where we all decided that Whoopi Goldberg was the person who defined all words and phrases for us? I know, right? The Spokesperson For All Liberal Maxims keeps changing without notice. Now it’s James Corden for airing that cameo of Hillary reading from _Fire and Fury._ Oh wait, there’s a video of a fat girl in a classroom yelling something about victims. Everybody hit the YouTube now! ---
**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 29, 2018, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/107 "2018-01-29T13:26:02Z")
I really need a scorecard of some sort to tell which entertainer is speaking for me today. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/108 "2018-01-29T14:23:13Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > I really need a scorecard of some sort to tell which entertainer is speaking for me today. I feel ya. ---
**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 29, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/109 "2018-01-29T14:42:05Z")
Sadly, I’ve been without a celebrity spokesman since we lost Jim Varney. ---
**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 29, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/110 "2018-01-29T14:57:46Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Sadly, I’ve been without a celebrity spokesman since we lost Jim Varney. You LOST Jim Varney? Geez, we sent you to the hardware store with one job… well, two jobs, since you had to buy a 3/4 to 1/2 inch adapter… and not lose Jim Varney. Oh. I just checked, and he’s dead… well, that makes your job even easier! You park, you go in (they even have automatic doors), you prop Jim next to the Novelty Garden Stakes display, and you find someone in a red apron (with the Ace logo on it, don’t just start talking plumbing supplies with that confused homeless lady like last time… Darren), and you keep an eye on Jim and why am I even bothering you’re going to keep screwing this up and I’m just saying if you keep losing people you are not taking James Corden anywhere he’s got a show to do. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/111 "2018-01-29T15:07:49Z")
That’s one of the few reasons i brought rape up. False rape accusations also increased, I found a chart on it. Will see if I can find it again. ---
**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 29, 2018, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/112 "2018-01-29T15:19:48Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > That’s one of the few reasons i brought rape up. False rape accusations also increased, I found a chart on it. Will see if I can find it again. What is the “that” referring to? Usually, I can check back a post or two to figure it out. But no one’s been talking about rape today. In fact, you’re the only one – do you need to keep bringing it up? In multiple threads, on multiple boards? Why don’t you go back to the original subject and talk about “empowerment”, and get off this rape fixation. ---
**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 29, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/113 "2018-01-29T15:20:33Z")
I was recently speaking with Frankenstein’s Monster and he imparted these thought provoking words: Charts good. ---
**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 29, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/114 "2018-01-29T15:20:48Z")
Kid, you are in deep end of the pool. It’s over your head. (Shouldn’t you be at school?) ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/115 "2018-01-29T15:38:59Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I was recently speaking with Frankenstein’s Monster and he imparted these thought provoking words: Charts good. I think he said “Sharts feels gud.” ---
**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 29, 2018, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/116 "2018-01-29T15:57:50Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > That’s one of the few reasons i brought rape up. False rape accusations also increased, I found a chart on it. Will see if I can find it again. Have they? Or are we as a society (and social scientists along with reputable reporters) simply getting better at identifying and reporting various crimes and misdemeanors? What you appear to SUCK at, and why I said you’re impressionable (and easily lead, as a result), Is that you think you hear hoof beats and assume it’s zebras. A large part of being a rational thinking adult is developing critical thinking skills and ability to resist jumping to conclusions you want because of a strong confirmation bias. Just because some charismatic nut-job you YouTube tells you want you want to hear and urges you to believe every word, doesn’t mean you should. In fact, you really shouldn’t. ---
**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 29, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/117 "2018-01-29T16:17:43Z")
Research claims that you disagree with. Doubly research claims you automatically agree with. ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/118 "2018-01-29T16:42:56Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Really? Then why did Whoopi Goldberg feel the need to use the term “rape-rape” when talking about whether a sexual offense was actually, you know, rape? I’ll tell you exactly why. It’s because the term has been adopted by the SJW crowd to include any number of offenses that are not rape-rape in an effort to make them equally bad and equally punishable. As Sharon Stone was recently moved to remark, you don’t charge someone for murder when they get a parking ticket. (Naturally she came in for abuse from the SJW crowd, as did Matt Damon when he dared to remark that there is a spectrum when it comes to sexual offenses. Surely Stone and Damon and Goldberg got these ideas somewhere outside the right-wing infotainment sphere, would’t you think? The reality is that the behavior I described is everywhere in the country’s national dialog these days, and everyone except those intentionally wearing blinders knows it. > > Well, you wouldn’t know unless they voiced them. I know dozens or hundreds of conservatives and none of them have ever expressed the beliefs or attitudes that get attributed to them dozens or hundreds of times a day just on this board. So what has either of us proven with our observations? “Not much”, would be my answer. > [@digs](#): > > What is the “that” referring to? Usually, I can check back a post or two to figure it out. But no one’s been talking about rape today. In fact, you’re the only one – do you need to keep bringing it up? In multiple threads, on multiple boards? Why don’t you go back to the original subject and talk about “empowerment”, and get off this rape fixation. … ---
**Author:** ![Luciano700](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/119 "2018-01-29T16:47:59Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Kid, you are in deep end of the pool. It’s over your head. > (Shouldn’t you be at school?) I am. ---
**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 29, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-i-hate-how-the-word-empowerment-lost-its-original-use-and-context/807678/120 "2018-01-29T17:03:22Z")
> [@Luciano700](#): > > I am. Does the school offer a class in Critical Thinking and Analysis? [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=5) [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=7)