I fucking hate the word "problematic".
I've been struggling to articulate exactly what it is that bugs me so much about "problematic," (and please imagine me screwing up my face, using a sarcastic voice and making exaggerated air-quotes while you read that) but an idle insomnia-fueled wander around the Internet the other night led me to the Urban Dictionary definition of the word, which conveniently sums up pretty much how I feel about this word and how it it used today:
A corporate-academic weasel word used mainly by people who sense that something may be oppressive, but don't want to do any actual thinking about what the problem is or why it exists. Also frequently used in progressive political settings among White People of a Certain Education to avoid using herd-frightening words like "racist" or "sexist."
I've heard the term "weasel word" in the past, but it had somehow slipped out of my mind. Reading this definition brought it all back, though, and made me realise what a wonderfully descriptive term it is. "Weasel word" — a word or phrase designed to weasel your way into (or out of) a difficult topic without saying anything truly confrontational. Or sometimes without saying anything of substance at all.
Alongside the fact that "problematic" is a particularly slimy example of a weasel word, it also bugs me that it seems to be the first and only word people turn to when attempting to discuss Important Matters of Social Justice That We're All Supposed to Get Really Fucking Angry About. Whenever it's used, it just makes me think of people trying to sound more intelligent than they actually are. In fact, what it makes me think of — and here's a random memory for you — is a time shortly after my Grandad Davison died and my parents were having a Serious Conversation in the front of the car. I was very young at the time, but I felt that it was Important for me to join in said Serious Conversation, so I listened, nodded and murmured "Mm. True. Very true," at moments when I thought it would be appropriate, but actually ended up looking like a bit of a tool. I get the same feeling any time people start dropping "problematic" all over the place in conversation — like they're trying to have a conversation that they're not really quite mentally equipped for. Unfair? Perhaps. But that's how I feel.
My teeth-gritting annoyance at the use of this word was actually concerning me somewhat since so many people were using it, so I looked it up and attempted to determine if it was actually some sort of established sociological term, but no, I found no evidence to suggest that. It's just a word that's caught on and become fashionable for some inexplicable reason — much like "entitled" was a year or two back — and now everyone and their radical feminist dog is using it. The English language is rich, diverse and full of multiple ways to say the same thing. Use it.
If you're similarly frustrated with the prevalence of this weasel word and want to do something about it, may I suggest that when Christmas rolls around, you purchase a thesaurus for everyone on your Twitter and/or Facebook feeds who has expressed an interest in being some sort of militant crusader for social justice. And maybe by next year we'll have a new overused word to get sick of.
Discover more from I'm Not Doctor Who
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Every conversation the word 'problematic' has come up I just want to say "… but WHY?! How!? Lets dig down to why you feel the way you do and the things you believe so we can have a conversation. It's an awfully unspecific word. Not because of itself, but because of the contexts it's used in.
Chances are pretty good that at least among gaming it's used when no one actually has any solid data on the science behind the influences between game and player (or all the data such as violent video game studies is evidence against the point 'problematic' is supposed to prove, so it's not brought up >_>)
It drives me crazy, but I hold solace that every art form to date has had their "Censure for the sake of the amorphous effects on societyyyyy!!!" and very few have ever stuck, nor done anything certain except ensure the censured material's place in history.
We decided games are art, we might as well start defending them like it. High, low, depraved, transcendent. It's all permitted, even encouraged in examining the nature of man.
(It's just crazy that the majority of art (game) critics will defend violence all day (GTA V) but will line up with bats to give a game beatings for sexual appeal (Dragon's Crown, a T rated game in case anyone forgot >_>)
Yeah. I think herein lies my problem: people will happily waffle on all day about how "problematic" something is, while simultaneously failing to 1) actually define the problem in question and 2) propose a solution beyond the ever-amorphous concept of "raising awareness". Something bother you? Get off Tumblr and do something productive about it.
Oh I knooooooooooowwww!! There are quite a few 'problematic' weasel words (yippee what a great word for them) out there that make me cringe and/or become incandescent when I hear them, especially if they are directed at me. My special Hate words are "Take Ownership" of whatever problem or character trait I have been accused of misusing!! "take ownership"! Who says that, except people who want to be PC. It makes me immediately want to say "Fuck off" which is not usually advisable seeing I am 'dialoguing' (barf) with family members who should know better, or people out in public – I refuse to say in the public domain. I know it's language and it all deserves to be used, but not as a distortion – not as a distorted weapon. Yujjo!!! (my own created word – we are still able thank goodness to make up our own words for things – so satisfying.) 😀
I had a feeling I'd find a kindred spirit in you. 🙂 "Take ownership" is fairly loathsome, as is the word "action" used as a verb. "I'll action that for you." No you won't. You'll do it for me.
Made-up words — or, for that matter, inventing your own nonsensical uses for existing words — is a good response to weasel words, I think! I may have to do it a bit more.
Man, you're right. … I've used the word. But usually I use it when I'm sure all parties involved in a conversation know exactly what I'm talking about. It's shorthand for "gods, I HATE this friggin' problem we've talked about for what feels like YEARS, it's so confusing and complicated, but I won't put us through my mentioning all the reasons, yet AGAIN. We all hate it."
Using it as a substitute for another more obvious problem you *don't* want to talk about specifically, it's a way of getting out of being responsible for your words, to back them up or intelligently discuss them. Meh, maybe I'm doing it wrong, too… but I don't use it a lot, either.