Why I Decided to Become an Elitist

[Izsha]

Barack Obama could post in the 'what do you do for a living?' thread saying POTUS and someone would get all huffy about how that dude is just rubbing his ego in people's faces.

In a thread that has become a semantic fight over what elite and elitist mean, a raider says "I consider myself in the elite class because only 2.7% of the server beat fcob and I'm one of them as an objective measure of my status as elite", but that simple statement of fact used to back up an argument (about a definition) is taken as an egotistical attack. This is what we're talking about.

But here on the internet, our success is apparently a direct attack on others who aren't as successful. I still blame the everyone gets a participation ribbon generation, but that's for another time.

[Skivvy]

Barack Obama could post in the 'what do you do for a living?' thread saying POTUS and someone would get all huffy about how that dude is just rubbing his ego in people's faces.

In a thread that has become a semantic fight over what elite and elitist mean, a raider says "I consider myself in the elite class because only 2.7% of the server beat fcob and I'm one of them as an objective measure of my status as elite", but that simple statement of fact used to back up an argument (about a definition) is taken as an egotistical attack. This is what we're talking about.

Ah yes, but would the President come here and make a long speech about how he is an Elitist, and that those in lower positions just don't try hard enough and want things handed to them, and proceed to drone on about all these exaggerated behaviors of those below him?

I can see that ending well. Much like this thread.

The entire point is the "common usage" in this context is using the word with a specific bias attached to it. The word, by definition, carries no explicit bias and can, as the op is saying, be used in a non-negative manner. The bias itself is the problem. Not the meaning of the word elitist. The bias itself is a specific prejudice. Prejudice, historically, is awful. Anyone arguing for the continuation of this bias is simply propagating a negative prejudice. This does no good for anyone what-so-ever. We should always fight prejudice tooth and nail. Not roll over because that's just how things are. The only way to remove the prejudice is to take the word back just as the OP is trying to do. African American men took the N-word back generations ago. It is the exact same concept at play here.

Simply accepting the prejudice does nothing to fix it.

It's sad how many people in this thread are fighting tooth and nail to propagate a prejudiced world view. We as a species should be trying to overcome this. Not remain actively complacent in using words that divide us as a people. Prejudice is the tool of hate and the people who spread it the wielder of hate.

It's a bit ridiculous to write off the common usage of a word in a very specific community. We are gamers, typing on a gaming forum, and I'm pretty sure you know how gamers typically use the term "elitist". What is all this fluff about fighting tooth and nail to propagate a prejudiced world view of a word? Good looooord. Whether or not you approve, this is the meaning that the community as a whole has chosen.

[GenJoe]

Ah yes, but would the President come here and make a long speech about how he is an Elitist, and that those in lower positions just don't try hard enough and want things handed to them, and proceed to drone on about all these exaggerated behaviors of those below him?

I can see that ending well. Much like this thread.

Behind closed doors among the large campaign contributors, it would go quite well.. Even for a Democrat
For a Republican, I'm sure it goes even better.


Point is.. it's all about what audience you speak to.
What OP did is to make the case in a public forum where there's a mixture of people on both sides, that's why it's causing a stir.

[Tiggy]

Whether or not you approve, this is the meaning that the community as a whole has chosen.

That doesn't make hate acceptable. That was literally the point of my last post.

And the very fact that you have to call it the n-word makes your comparison fall flat on its face.

It's called forum rules you fool. Do you really not grasp such a simple concept?

I get it though. You all love to spread hate around and you don't care whether you should or not. Go out in the world and continue to be the little hate mongers you are. I wash my hands of this hateful thread.

[Skivvy]

That doesn't make hate acceptable. That was literally the point of my last post.

Assigning a negative connotation to a word now equals hate? Language is constantly evolving. Words come and go, meanings change with different generations, it's how the world works.


And before more crazy comes out of this, I am referring to the use of the term elitist. And I could give other examples of common words that have changed throughout the years. Trying to make your point by comparing horribly racist terms to that of harmless (but negative) terms is just ridiculous.

Edit#2

It's like you literally ignore when I brought up the racist example a few posts ago.

Honestly, I had missed the slur bit the first time around which is why I had edited my post. However I still think it's asinine to try and make your point regarding language evolution and possible bias by bringing up racial slurs.

[Tiggy]

Assigning a negative connotation to a word now equals hate? Language is constantly evolving. Words come and go, meanings change with different generations, it's how the world works.

Yes. Every. Single. Racist. Word. Ever.

It's like you literally ignore when I brought up the racist example a few posts ago.

[Kallera]

It's called forum rules you fool. Do you really not grasp such a simple concept?

I get it though. You all love to spread hate around and you don't care whether you should or not. Go out in the world and continue to be the little hate mongers you are. I wash my hands of this hateful thread.

Why do you think the forum rules prohibit the spelling of the word?

Because its derogatory meaning is still accepted by and large as part of its usage.

[Skivvy]

I get it though. You all love to spread hate around and you don't care whether you should or not. Go out in the world and continue to be the little hate mongers you are. I wash my hands of this hateful thread.

Well that took a turn! lol.

I am now a hate monger because I refuse to accept a positive spin on Elitists. Very well.

[Purrfectstorm]

Well that took a turn! lol.

I am now a hate monger because I refuse to accept a positive spin on Elitists. Very well.

No but ironically you're being your version of elitist by telling people they need to conform to the way you use words.

60 pages later and most of you don't understand I was using the word "elitist" ironically.

Like "You're going to call me an elitist because I actually try. Okay, fine, then I'm an elitist."

I wasn't embracing lording anything over people but I do think wanting to do your best is a superior attitude to being whiny and blaming others for your own failures.

[Skivvy]

No but ironically you're being your version of elitist by telling people they need to conform to the way you use words.

60 pages later and most of you don't understand I was using the word "elitist" ironically.

Like "You're going to call me an elitist because I actually try. Okay, fine, then I'm an elitist."

I wasn't embracing lording anything over people but I do think wanting to do your best is a superior attitude to being whiny and blaming others for your own failures.

Using a word in it's accepted description is not being elitist.

So if you were using the term ironically, because people have been calling you an elitist even when you weren't, you're acknowledging that the term elitist is used in a negative fashion amongst this community.

And yes, trying to better yourself is always a good thing, however the way you came about making this point was to put down the other side unnecessarily. There are bad/rude players on ALL levels. I cannot stress this enough. Those People who will be entitled, people who have the mental maturity of a 5 year old, maybe people who are just naive when it comes to how to behave in an MMO. It is best if we all try to be better people, and ignore those who are going to rage and throw hissies. Ignore those who are going to claim you're elitist simply for wanting to abandon after 20 minutes of straight wipes, whatever the case is. There could have been a decent conversation going had there not been unnecessary attacks right out the gate.