[tptacek]

I'm just kicking back waiting for y'all to resolve this.

I regret (and did even at the time) using the words "dancing around" --- I was just waking up (let's not discuss the unhealthiness of "commenting on HN" being one of the first things I did after regaining consciousness) and even as I wrote it was thinking "this conveys more intentionality than I mean to".

So for that bit, I apologize! People still should aggressively avoid the term. I only saw this thread because I've been on a sort of comment bigotry scavenger hunt with "rootless cosmopolitan" as one of the items.

[pvg]

I don't think there's really anything wrong with your comment, it's a triggery term and jumped out at me in the original piece itself where the author uses it to ironically self-describe. It's a little weird (or maybe he is also Jewish) but I think I get the usage. He's written previously about Bulgaria's Roma community and the discrimination they continue to face so I don't think he's trying to start any shit.

I wouldn't casually use it in English, though, precisely for the reasons you outline.

[CodeMage]

FWIW, I now understand where you were going with the comment and appreciate that you clarified it.

It was also quite informative to learn about this phrase and its nuances.