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by PaulHoule 1201 days ago
Incels might be the most prominent example of a group with a large hermetic vocabulary that floats independently of the rules that govern neologisms.

For instance you could almost figure out what ‘anti-racism’ is based on the composition rules of language. (But you might think “anti-“ means “opposed to” whereas “anti-“ as in anti-matter is more like it according to Coates.)

Someone who went to the movies might dimly understand the “pills” (or do some people just take a lot of drugs?). On the other hand you could never figure out “chad”, and “stacey” without explanation.

2 comments

> On the other hand you could never figure out “chad”, and “stacey” without explanation.

Or, you know, context.

I don’t know what a Stan is but could easily understand what they were referring to by the way they used the word.

Incels? What’s that? Pots that call the kettles black?

You are trying to lock down language with your own restrictive unstated rules, while also complaining about 1984 locking down language with rules?!

Shaka, when the walls fell.