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Is the term "snowflake" a new one ?


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Old 22-12-2016, 22:05
BlizzardUK
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I see the word snowflake being used a lot lately, I am presuming it means people who are offended easy, like those on Twitter or at most university unions.

Is it a new term though recently made up, or is it a long term thing ? Just never heard it until recently and now it is mentioned in lots of places.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:08
francie
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No idea how long it's been around I'm afraid, have been seeing it myself recently and interpret is as meaning "precious".
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:10
muggins14
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Seems a fairly new term to me - I tend to hold a dimmer view of those who use it to put down whole sections of society rather than those they are calling a 'snowflake' in the first place.

It's almost the new 'chav', thrown around by those with an overblown idea that they are better than those about whom they are speaking.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:16
Union Jock
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Seems a fairly new term to me - I tend to hold a dimmer view of those who use it to put down whole sections of society rather than those they are calling a 'snowflake' in the first place.

It's almost the new 'chav', thrown around by those with an overblown idea that they are better than those about whom they are speaking.
I've seen it used but how is it putting down whole sections when surely it would apply only to those in that section who are snowflakes, or seen as that is.?
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:16
Thine Wonk
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It is a relatively new term, but sometimes a new word is needed to describe something new, which is the recent Twitter generation which has cropped up recently. They get offended very easily and want to ban everything because it hurts their feelings.

University used to be where you would broaden your view of life, but these days they want to sit in their own comfort spot and anything which makes them slightly uncomfortable isn't allowed and needs to be banned.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:32
BanglaRoad
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Just another word used by the Katie Hopkins types when people object to their obnoxious views.Snowflake, virtue signalling and social justice warrior are all from the same basket. Used to sneer at anyone who doesn't share their twisted views.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:33
muggins14
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I've seen it used but how is it putting down whole sections when surely it would apply only to those in that section who are snowflakes, or seen as that is.?
It's simply my own opinion - those I've seen use it only use it when discussing a group of people rather than individuals.

I don't think anybody IS a snowflake - after all, it's all down to the person using the derogatory term and what they consider to be a snowflake. One person's snowflake may not necessarily be another's. A bit like people calling others left-wing luvvies when it just means people who don't hold the same views or have the same attitude that they do. One person's left-wing luvvie is another person's right-wing nutjob. It all depends on where you yourself stand on the topic at hand.

I would imagine, back in the 60's and 70's when people were protesting the Vietnam and wanting to ban the bomb, others who didn't agree with them would have called them snowflakes. It all depends upon a person's point of view.

These are, obviously, my own personal impressions from what I read on here when the term snowflake is bandied about. I only really hear it on here.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:33
IJoinedInMay
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It is a relatively new term, but sometimes a new word is needed to describe something new, which is the new Twitter generation which has cropped up recently and get offended very easily and want to ban everything because it hurts their feelings.

University used to be where you would broaden your view of life, but these days they want to sit in their own comfort spot and anything which makes them slightly uncomfortable isn't allowed and needs to be banned.
Do you use Twitter? There's plenty of anti-PC/conservative/right-wing types on there. The suggestion that it's dominated by the very liberal, left-wing professional complainer stereotype is a myth IMO.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:34
An Thropologist
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:37
Happ Hazzard
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People protesting Vietnam were out on the streets getting shot at by the army. They weren't hiding in their bedrooms crying about being "triggered". I think the younger generation today is in for a shock when they are forced out into the real world and realise that it isn't a "safe space", that people are going to sometimes say things that they disagree with.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:37
muggins14
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It is a relatively new term, but sometimes a new word is needed to describe something new, which is the recent Twitter generation which has cropped up recently. They get offended very easily and want to ban everything because it hurts their feelings.

University used to be where you would broaden your view of life, but these days they want to sit in their own comfort spot and anything which makes them slightly uncomfortable isn't allowed and needs to be banned.
I think that's just the impression the media want to give of how it is in university, when I imagine that it isn't like that for most people who attend. You read an article about something and assume that it relates to all universities, all students and that they are all behaving like tender souls, when really it's just a few.

Just as you mention the 'Twitter generation' when really Twitter's inhabited by people of all generations, most of whom aren't acting like easily offended darlings and who are more likely to be outspoken, rude even, and certainly aren't afraid to have an opinion. Which is, of course, what it's there for. But if all you are seeing on Twitter is people with hurt feelings, perhaps better to try and follow some more interesting people
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:41
wns_195
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NUS elections in some universities have a turnout of less than 20% of members and not all who vote support the winning candidates.

I first heard the term "snowflake" when a celebrity used it in an interview that made headlines. I can't find the article or remember the ame of the celebrity.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:42
muggins14
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People protesting Vietnam were out on the streets getting shot at by the army. They weren't hiding in their bedrooms crying about being "triggered". I think the younger generation today is in for a shock when they are forced out into the real world and realise that it isn't a "safe space", that people are going to sometimes say things that they disagree with.
This is exactly what I'm talking about. You hear a few people talk about triggering and safe spaces and assume it's a whole generation who is acting like that and demanding safe spaces, when really most students are out there working their way through university living in the real world. The media isn't going to talk about them though, just a few who go on about being triggered and safe spaces. Meanwhile most students are working evenings at Argos and Sainsbury's to pay their way through Uni.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:44
Eurostar
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Seems a fairly new term to me - I tend to hold a dimmer view of those who use it to put down whole sections of society rather than those they are calling a 'snowflake' in the first place.

It's almost the new 'chav', thrown around by those with an overblown idea that they are better than those about whom they are speaking.
It's definitely derogatory as a snowflake would suggest something or someone that is very fragile and lightweight and not of much substance.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:44
barbeler
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Snowflake = ephemeral. Here today, gone tomorrow.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:44
planets
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I think that's just the impression the media want to give of how it is in university, when I imagine that it isn't like that for most people who attend. You read an article about something and assume that it relates to all universities, all students and that they are all behaving like tender souls, when really it's just a few.

Just as you mention the 'Twitter generation' when really Twitter's inhabited by people of all generations, most of whom aren't acting like easily offended darlings and who are more likely to be outspoken, rude even, and certainly aren't afraid to have an opinion. Which is, of course, what it's there for. But if all you are seeing on Twitter is people with hurt feelings, perhaps better to try and follow some more interesting people
It's very different in the American University system Muggins.
A long while ago i was reading articles by Law Professors saying students had requested the word "violate" not be used in class because the word was triggering.
HERE's one of the articles i read on the subject which is 2 years old now it's only just starting to filter over to this country in the last 12 months or so. SOme students requested the cessation of teaching rape law as it was "distressing". It was this generation of student with this type of obsession with triggering and micro aggression that caused the term snowflake to develop in common parlance.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:45
D_Mcd4
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I find it tends to be used by people who are equally thin skinned and have hysterics when something matters to them is questioned.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:47
Pencil
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Seems a fairly new term to me - I tend to hold a dimmer view of those who use it to put down whole sections of society rather than those they are calling a 'snowflake' in the first place.

It's almost the new 'chav', thrown around by those with an overblown idea that they are better than those about whom they are speaking.
Well, they are.

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Old 22-12-2016, 22:47
Smokeychan1
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It came and went in gaming parlance a few years ago now - though to be honest, we would be more likely to use it as a form of self-deprecation than use it insult others. Mind, we gamers are a friendly bunch on the whole. And global, which is probably why it seems old-hat to me and new to others.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:48
muggins14
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Well, they are.

Who are what?
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:50
Eurostar
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Do you use Twitter? There's plenty of anti-PC/conservative/right-wing types on there. The suggestion that it's dominated by the very liberal, left-wing professional complainer stereotype is a myth IMO.
Very true....I'm almost surprised by the number of quite hardline conservatives / right wingers / populists posting right across the internet. Anyone expecting it to be full of right on liberals with very PC views would be in for a big surprise.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:52
planets
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I see the word snowflake being used a lot lately.
of all the people to ask.....
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:54
benjamini
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Another way for the disgruntled to put down a section of society. Pathetic but predictable.
So much grudge against the old, the immigrants , the wealthy , the youth , the poor the disabled , the disenfranchised. Who's left? The bitter and twisted..

DS has become a horrific sea of ugly bitter people who resent everything , with a few honourable exception.
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:55
muggins14
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of all the people to ask.....
Hahaha

I notice they don't use it much these days with regard to Christmas and any potential whiteness
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Old 22-12-2016, 22:58
shaddler
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I thought the term 'special snowflake' has been around for a long time?
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