The game has just been nominated for two Gayming Magazine Awards due to its (optional) gay romance.
“TRIGGER WARNING,” the post begins. “Among all the various awards and nominations we’ve received, we’ve also just been nominated for the @gaymingmag GAYMING AWARDS! I’m really proud of that, because I absolutely stand by the fact that the way we did it is exactly how something like this should be done. Non-coercively, naturally, and educationally (because we show how things really were in the Middle Ages without idealizing them)–and without shoving it down anyone’s throat or trying to re-educate them like so many titles that are rightfully called ‘woke’ these days. We made the gay community happy and gave them the CHOICE to be themselves, just like we did for others in other choices and quests, and anyone who isn’t interested probably didn’t even notice. Except, of course, for [a] very small and very loud minority.”
Given the state of the world, and the anti-elitist sentiment going around, the fact that there aren’t genuinely leftist parties getting 70+ percent of the vote in a lot of countries, is quite amazing.
Part of the reason for that, is the academization of the left. One of the problems that has brought with it, is a nitpicky focus on the correct use of language.
If we are to succeed, the vast majority of leftist will necessarily have to be people without the right university degrees, or who do not hang out in the kinds of circles where they get socialized into acceptable language.
Going all fire and brimstone because someone uses a bad word, often quite innocently, is an effective way to come off as self-righteous and preachy. Acting like that is the most important part of politics, is a good way to come off as superficial.
There’s a reason why conservative strategists grab on to this and amplify it – because they know that this kills the left. The left does not work if it is not broad and populist.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t all try to be considerate or strategic with how we use language - but save the fire and brimstone for the elites and the material issues.
What I believe is that this is what the word means to a lot of people. We might want to change that, but not like this - and quite frankly, we have much bigger issues to deal with