General Discussion

Of course I do, which is why I said:

"Phobia" as a suffix means "fear" when used as a psychological term (arachnophobia, hippophobia), but among sociologists, "-phobia" represents "dislike" (homophobia, Islamophobia). In legal circles, it represents "hate". The suffix can cause confusion, but it usually is pretty understandable given context.

Regardless if it is your 'cup of tea' or not, usage does create and redefine words. Sometimes, for ill, sometimes as culture or time dictates the need for new usage. The Holocaust wiped out almost 2/3rds of the Jews in Europe. But it would not be odd to hear someone say: "The Nazis decimated the Jewish population of Europe, and even its world population." The word "decimate" literally means "to remove 1 in 10". That is obviously not what happened, as more than 10% of Jews in Europe (almost 70%) and almost half of the world Jewish population were gone. I am guessing you know what this is:


The name of the animal is hippopotamus. The literal translation: "River horse" . It is obviously not a horse, but there it is in the name.



The issue is education and not catering to ignorance. While defining anti-Semitism and acts related to it can create gray areas, the definition should not be, and I, and others, do see the attempts to change it to as distraction, dishonesty, and often, just plain old bigotry. "Anti-Semitism" is "prejudice, discrimination, or hostility directed at Jewish people." PERIOD! It is NOT "prejudice, discrimination, or hostility directed at people who are 'Semetic or speak Semitic languages' nor does the definition make caveats for who are NOT anti-Semites, a common bullshit tactic I see from some who claim; "Palestinians can't be anti-Semitic because they are Semites!" So what?! Let's pretend that the definition really was about "Semites" it still wouldn't mean they are excluded from being bigots because they belong to the targeted group. For some, this will be a newsflash; Jews can be anti-Semites too! Just like non-white folk can be racist, gays can be homophobic, old/young people can be ageist, and women can be sexist.

Trying to redefine the word to ease the tsuris of people who take issue with Jews is a fool's errand because no matter what word is chosen, the same bullshit game-playing will take place. It is also stupid to pretend that "transphobia" really means "fear of crossing". I am guessing such a "redefinition" of that word in such a way, especially to excuse or mitigate an act of transphobia, would not be tolerated here.



I admit I don't understand that paragraph in the least.

I will end with: anti-Semitism (antiSemitism, antisemitism) is prejudice, discrimination, or hostility directed at Jewish people. Anyone trying to make it out as if it is not, well, their motives are the ones who need to be changed, not the definition of the word "anti-Semitism" or however one chooses to spell it.