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pikeryesterday at 5:06 PM5 repliesview on HN

I'm not defending Musk, but "problematic" used in this type of context is one of those words that says more about the speaker than it does the subject.


Replies

gwerbinyesterday at 5:43 PM

Taking issue with this use of "problematic" says a lot about the speaker too.

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lokaryesterday at 5:33 PM

I think you can forgive it as a rhetorical device when speaking to a really broad audience.

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Henchman21yesterday at 6:44 PM

Just because you've been programmed to associate "problematic" with "liberals" and then further trained to think that people who use the word "problematic" are in fact problems, that's on you, the larger zeitgeist you don't see, and the people programming you.

joleyjyesterday at 5:32 PM

It seems to me to be saying that the person finds Elon Musk’s behavior problematic. What else are you reading into it?

rhinesyesterday at 5:41 PM

I feel like taking issue with a word, even when used in a perfectly valid situation, is something worth reflection. Like fair enough if you've heard problematic used in ways you disagree with before, but maybe respond to those comments, not one where you agree with its use. Unless you actually do mean to defend Musk and don't think lying to investors, calling people pedos for saving kids, delaying public infrastructure, doing Nazi salutes, etc. etc. is problematic.