lemmy.ml meta

Queer and gay I'd say have been completely reclaimed.

really depends on the community. "Queer" (particularly pluralized) is still used as a slur in the Midwest and Deep South of the US. I got called "gay" as as an unironic expletive literally two days ago online. "fake and gay" is a current 4chan meme.

I want to note I didn't implement this and have no power over it but I do find it kind of shocking since opening an account here how often people use the b-word online casually and I do not think most of them are women.

I'm guessing you mean how often you infer people trying to use the b-word here, since it's redacted? but what do you mean "casually?" casual could have two meanings, e.g.

A. "she's such an uptight [b-word]"

B. "sorry for being such a [b-word] earlier"

casual use of language like A would be shocking. usage like B I don't find shocking at all. again, maybe it's a cultural/generational difference, but B doesn't really feel sexist in most uses - it's semantically bleached.

an illustrative example of semantic bleaching is the term "raw-dogging." this used to rather graphically refer to having unprotected penetrative sex. however among gen z it's more commonly used to mean undergoing an experience without the comfort of any conveniences, e.g.

"my headphones broke so I had to rawdog the whole flight to London 💀"

"bro rawdogged the whole exam without a calculator"

It's as commonly abused as it is "reclaimed", in a male-dominated space like this it's more abused than reclaimed.

maybe my experience is different because again, as a woman, I hang out less in male-dominated spaces. but I imagine this varies from instance to instance. like, blahaj.zone is probably pretty safe from sexist use of the b-word by the nature of its members.