What is the best way to react, if someone calls you a degenerate? Just leave them, remembering the insult?
This type of insult targets disabled people specifically?
They’re probably far-right, which is why you find people in Nazi bars like MeanwhileOnGrad using it frequently: (credit to @Diva@lemmy.ml )
CW
Funny enough, lemmings.world shut down because this prediction was wrong, the communists are here to stay.
In that sense, I’d react similarly to whenever a fascist, Zionist, etc. starts attacking me. None of their points hold any water, so just point that out.
My friends and I call each other degenerate when we do things that are degenerate. Like playing wow until 6am. Or buying a taco bell burrito with the intention of reheating it the next day. Or binging some garbage reality show. It’s all in good fun.
I wouldn’t take it personally, it’s just a term that jokingly means “a person who has their shit together wouldn’t be doing that”, but we all have those things and they’re fun to take note of and laugh about.
If thrown out sincerely, or with real vitriol, avoid. It’s pretty dehumanizing in such a sense.
But if it’s was a friend teasing you then that’s something else, just throw some insult back at them.
“I’ll remember that.”
No, it is a general insult usually aimed at your moral character.
Yeah, I’ve never heard of it being used to target people with disabilities (although looking it up, I see it can be used that way, TIL) - I’ve only ever thought of it as a judgement on character/behaviour. Like I’d have no issue with anyone describing Trump as a degenerate, because he’s a sick, twisted, vindictive, corrupt prick.
So is it an okay insult to use depending on context?
That’s all words really.
I am not justifying the insult, just explaining how most people would use it.
If it’s not being used ironically or self deprecatingly I generally assume the person in question is a fash or some sort of right winger
meow just meow at them
Throw a dildo at them
Alternatively,
I say “thank you, I try” and blow them a flirty kiss.
I associate this with fascists and right-wingers going back a few generations as being broadly equivalent to ‘woke’ these days: i.e. anything vaguely progressive that they didn’t like.
So, without additional context, my reaction would be to assume that the person saying this was a fascist - and therefore to treat any further interactions accordingly - and to wear the term with honour.
Tell them to dengerate these nutz
“You wanna fuck me so bad it makes you look stupid”
No decent person would use the word degenerate. Just don’t interact if you can
I know a fairly large number of amazing people who use the word degenerate somewhat frequently. That said, they are all definitely degenerates and proud of it.
Reclamation is totally fine of course
Unless it’s a consensual sex thing
I may not be a decent person, but I do have a discord channel called The Department of Degeneracy where we post dark, spicy, and doomer memes that would make grandma gasp and clutch her pearls.
I commonly get called names and have disparaging comments fly my way.
At first, I let them get under my skin. I would get depressed. But I realized this is exactly what they want me to feel. They won.
Now when someone “makes a joke” I just tell myself they won’t win and realize whatever credibility or trust I had for this person is lost. They are wholly uneducated and I make the choice not to engage with them any further.
I win this round. Not them
“Your opinion has no value”, or some variety thereof. Then get on with your day.
“I’ve seen what makes you people cheer, your boos mean nothing to me.”
