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Fuck all cops, but should we really be calling them bastards? (beehaw.org)

submitted 3 months ago by rosethornRangerTTV@beehaw.org to c/socialism@beehaw.org

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ACAB is a common slogan, especially in anarchist spaces. Should we really be using it though? It is a reference to children born without their parents being married, and due to christian morality is seen as inherently negative. It is effectively a slur. Do we really think that trying to enforce the hierarchies we are trying to get away from on others is going to help us? How have we allowed this slogan to become so common?

As an anarchist I think we should be defending these people, not punishing them with the hope of some of that transferring to cops.

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[–] TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone 45 points 3 months ago (2 children)

No one in earnest hears someone get called a bastard and wonders about their parentage these days.

It's simply a derogatory word.

[–] LukeZaz@beehaw.org 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I agree, but this is still a good opportunity to interrogate our assumptions about this, and particularly to listen to folks born out of wedlock to check if those assumptions are at all accurate to their experiences.

[–] Vodulas@beehaw.org 10 points 3 months ago

I agree with the examination of language. My issue with this particular case is that unless someone brings it up, there is no way to know someone's parental status. It just does not matter to anyone that I have ever interacted with, so has never come up in conversation or even crossed my mind to ask. Bastard is kind of a vestigial insult.

[–] rosethornRangerTTV@beehaw.org 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I've still heard people with that parentage called a bastard because of it though, so what about what they think, what about their experiences? Are they just not people to you?

[–] TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone 17 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I've never experienced that and known numerous people who could be referred to as bastard children.

I think you'll have trouble revising the slogan based on this quibble, even if there is this well meaning reasoning behind it.

[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 12 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Anther example is Bitch referring to a female dog. Now it's just slang and the only people that still refer to female dogs this way are older English, Americans, & farmers it seems.

edit: motherfuckers indeed do not (usually) have intercourse with thier mother