Use of derogatory names for politicians and groups of people

[Belsnickel]

(03-14-2024, 06:18 PM)Matt_Crimson Wrote: Hmm....I dunno. Seems like an odd position to take Bels.

Why would someone not get offended by you calling them a cult? I cant think of a time I've ever heard that word used in a positive sense. You can't just  define something as a "cult" and tell people to get over it because you feel you're accurately defining the movement. Whether you're accurately describing it or not has nothing to do with how people "should" feel about the use of the word. It's like calling a group of people "terrorists" and saying "Well I accurately described it. If you don't like that it's your problem". Clearly people will have a problem with that because like cult, "terrorist" is never really used in a positive sense, so naturally people who support "terrorists" will take offense to being called as such.

You've never seen the term cult used in a positive manner? Never heard of a "cult classic?" In all honesty, I get what you're saying but the reality of it is that the intention is not to offend. If you take offense being a part of a group that meets those definitions, then maybe don't be a member of it. I am a member of several organizations that people refer to as a cult. I mean, I am a Freemason for crying out loud, do you know the things that have been said about my Brethren? But even beyond that, I am also a civil servant. Every time negative things are said about the government that is derogatory towards a group of people with which I identify. People make the choice to be offended and they make a choice of the groups with which they affiliate. 

(03-14-2024, 06:18 PM)Matt_Crimson Wrote: How do you objectively prove that the MAGA movement is a cult? That seems a bit problematic to me. Sure, you could argue that there are those who show cult like tendencies on an individual basis, but the MAGA movement is a conglomerate of Trump supporters of various reasons for why they support him.

So, it shouldn't be a surprise that people get offended that they're called a "cult" when they're being equated to someone who essentially worships another person.

You are applying the MAGA movement moniker in too broad of a brush. For instance, Jeff Yass, the billionaire investor who caused Trump to change course on the TikTok ban. He isn't a part of the MAGA movement but he is a Trump supporter. He doesn't give two shits about the MAGA movement, he just sees Trump as a tool to manipulate. The GOP voters that are going to vote for Trump because he is the party's nominee? Not MAGA. I am talking about the die-hard, excuse making, head-in-the-sand MAGA members. That's the MAGA movement.

Now, objective is probably the wrong term to use because of the inherent ambiguity that exists in the definition of the term. However, when you look to authorities on the matter, when you view the MAGA movement through an objective lens is certainly going to show that those die hard followers fall within the defined boundaries. But again, just being a Trump voter, or even someone that supports him, doesn't make you a part of the MAGA movement. That is a very specific subset.