Carole29
Eniko FoxPersonally I would recommend switching from saying antifa to just saying the full thing: anti fascism. By using the shortened version the fascists get to obscure it's meaning and trick people into not noticing how absurd it is to be anti anti fascist, and we shouldn't let them have that
Garrett // megabyteGhost@eniko Agreed; this is what I have been doing. When people say "antifa" I do respond back saying "antifascist" as if that's what they said (which it is)
fabiosantoscode
John BurnsAlso... don't let the miss-pronunciation "an tea fuh" - gain any kind of ground... That's also done to obscure that you are against fascism...
Olivier@eniko being called for what they are, fascists, doesn't seem to bother them much either sadly.
More and more, they don't hide their aspirations. As people grovel at their feet or cower in fear of retribution, they grow bolder in asserting their true identity and intentions.
Kelson
@@eniko yup. I first heard the term ‘antifa’ years ago, and for a long time I misunderstood what it meant. Some people like the meanings of things to be simple and direct, not obscured behind contractions and memes. Think George Carlin had a thing or two to say about that..
Estarriol, Terrorist Dragonand if "anyone" says they are against antifas.
note to them that they are fascists then.
ask if they want a milkshake.
copygirl@eniko “Oh, me? No, I’m not a member of the organization ANTIFA™, I just have some opinions on fascism.” Fortunately, you can’t be a member of an organization that doesn’t exist. Unfortunately, that won’t matter. They will use this to shut down anyone on the left. ICE may just start going after “antifa terrorists” next.
mort@eniko I agree, "antifa" sounds like the name of a group that can be painted as scary and violent. And to a large extent, fascist media has already succeeded in that
avatastic 
@eniko and people deliberately mispronounce it to make it sound like it means something else.
42net@eniko Well, if you are a fascist and not very bright, it makes sense
su_liam@eniko I’m not sure how much that would actually help. How many people are there that don’t know that antifa means antifascist that aren’t, themselves abysmal unreachable idiots or abysmal unreachable profa? There’s no point trying to reach out to the abysmal unreachables and there’s no light coming through that crack.
Niko Trimmel
Dagnabbit, Pascaline! 💥I so agree.
And antifa almost sounds friendly, it has been an eyesore. So many shortened versions dilute the meanings of an entire cause.
Similarly, I avoid using 'left' and 'right' over here because we have many left and right parties, and it's always best to name the ones I am taking aim at. Name and shame!
ᴮᵉⁿ ᴿᵒʸᶜᵉVOTE IN THE PRIMARIESare you saying you can derail fascist groupthink simply using alternate phrases?
that they are morons screaming "COMMUNISM!" 34 years after the fall of the USSR and don't even know words have meanings, and only deploy words as weak insults as if meaning "poopiehead"?
that they don't possess coherent thought, merely follow propaganda channels obediently, and thus referring to the same concept but with alternate words will completely miss them?
🤭
"anti-fascist" it is then
TC Won't Give In To Liesi don't know if that has an antidote
no one controls words
words shift in meaning. across time, place, and subculture
sometimes organically, sometimes by purposeful propaganda agenda
all we can do is speak responsibly
and if a large horde uses words irresponsibly, fight the horde. not simply miss meaningful impact by not shifting our own word choice due to their malicious tactics
this is in the specific context of speaking to them
in good faith circles, not an issue
Iris Young (he/they/she) (PhD)@benroyce @TCatInReality @eniko in good faith circles we still fuck it up regularly. we still haven't unlearned/relearned "triggered" for example. but to your point: yes, absolutely.
it is true. it's very human. we react to words with inherent biases without thought. all of us
i try to handle it by being very clear in my meaning with my use of words, defining the context of my use in some limited attempt if i feel how i might be misconstrued. nevertheless, flamewars start up. it's difficult and a very human problem. the tower of babel. it is what it is
VulcanTourist@benroyce @TCatInReality @eniko
> not shifting our own word choice due to their malicious tactics
I may be a humanist, but I'm still also an atheist, dammit.
@VulcanTourist @TCatInReality @eniko
an atheist as in not believing in a god? or an atheist as in horrible communist antifa requiring subjugation?
(/s heavy sarcasm)
bouriquet@benroyce @eniko Our educational system worked for decades to instill fear and hatred in American children for the words communism and socialism without really describing what they are or should be, choosing instead to associate them with the brutally totalitarian states of the USSR and China.
Now we see the results. The knee jerk reaction when the word is used to label an opponent
Now we see the results. The knee jerk reaction when the word is used to label an opponent
💡𝚂𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗇 𝙰𝗉𝗉𝗌📱
BilliglarperI don't think this is about derailing fascist groupthink. Words from their out-group won't sway them. It's about undermining their communication.
Antifa sounds like a group of people, antifascist more like an attitude/mindset/value.
The first seems easier to other than the second.
Fascists don't like "woke" either. And they probably use compositions like "woke extremists" or such. But this doesn't seem to stick.
good point, well taken
Allen but one of the good ones@eniko been doing that since 2016, because they have been comparing antifa (mispronouncing it as an-TEEfuh to further obscure the meaning) to dangerous radical terrorists since the guy's first presidential campaign.
Esme Ciredutemps@eniko antifascism people.
Good idea
Good idea
@eniko I see how being more explicit might help a few understand, so I will be saying anti-fascist, but will continue to wear my “AUNTIEFA” tee shirt.
iwein@eniko or just... Make Antifa Great Again?
FElon&Felon47🇺🇦🇨🇦🇩🇰🇹🇼@eniko
Antifa Shist
Antifa Shist
Sassinake!you are absolutely right
yes, use anti - FASCIST.
Force them to admit the side they are on, or admit their ignorance of the meaning of the word
Look it up with them when they admit they don't know.
JacobRPG❌👑@eniko
An easy and effective pivot. Great idea.
An easy and effective pivot. Great idea.
R.L. LE@eniko For Englisch, this probably makes sense. In German, however, not so much – it's just an abbreviation, and speech economy is widely considered apolitical.
When Nazis use your label as a slur, don't move backward, but lean in and fight to reclaim it! Because if this little thing is a fight already, anything bigger will be 100 percent.
danimo 🏳️🌈@eniko So you want to tailor your language to the fascists? If you're already active down there, feel free to plant a kiss on the tip of their boots. 🥹
OSIRISIt also helps with the misunderstanding that antifa is some sort of organization. It's a movement.
Jonji@eniko They've already co-opted so many regular words, and weaponized them; this makes sense.
Ian Turton@eniko bring back the anti-nazi league
Dan Petitt@eniko @DevWouter problem is ‘antifa’ as a name wasn’t created by those supporting it; I guess Trump & maga did that for the exact reason you explain
purple's a fire marshal first aider@coderanger @DevWouter what? antifa is name deeply rooted in anti-fascist history?
I agree with @eniko 's point, but ‘antifa’ isn't a Trump invention.
Wouter LindenhofMaybe, but I think the point is more that Trump and maga are the best known users.
Besides, it’s not the first time that opponents adopt a term and subsequently corrupt it so that it becomes a slur.
SJ says Bo Lux@eniko agreed.