• samwise@kbin.social
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      2 years ago

      Assuming you’re asking from a place of wanting to know. “Dwarf” is a term that has been used in the past to describe little people or those suffering from dwarfism. It can be a negative word for some in that community and is tied to ableism in that way

      • turmacar@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        It’s also the preferred descriptor for some. I’ve had friends with dwarfism that thought “little people” was condescending as hell and hated it.

        None of this is ever black and white. Especially when it’s just interjecting into comments on the Internet talking about the fantasy race that’s either Jews with battle axes or persons from Svartálfheim.

        • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
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          2 years ago

          The way Tolkien-style dwarves embody stereotypes about Jews makes me really uncomfortable. I’m glad I’m not the only one who sees it.

          • turmacar@lemmy.world
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            2 years ago

            It’s a mostly standard view of Tolkien scholarship. They’re much more a medieval view of jewishness then something straight racist like say, JK Rowling’s goblins. As makes sense for an Old English scholar like Tolkein.

            Ancient people, separated into familial tribes, outcast from their ancestral home, not really welcomed anywhere but tolerated some places, warrior poet tradition, noble ‘in their way’, beards, gold, noses.

            Sprinkle on some Norse/Germanic for flavor and there you go. Though then you can get into the side conversation of Yiddish being a Germanic dialect/language.

      • BarbecueCowboy@kbin.social
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        2 years ago

        From what I’ve heard, I think that is the officially accepted term from the community that most prefer, or am I behind the times?

      • juliebean@lemm.ee
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        2 years ago

        honestly couldn’t they easily sidestep that whole can of worms by requesting a ‘dwarves’ tag instead

        • mathemachristian[he]@lemm.ee
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          2 years ago

          The tourist attraction is based on the stories. And the stories are based on little people being ascribe magical properties, like “rubbing their head brings luck” or someshit like that. The fantastical stories live in a real context. And a lot of the stories about dwarfs come from an ableist view on short people.

            • mathemachristian[he]@lemm.ee
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              2 years ago

              If you plan to argue that the entire fantasy genre needs to go

              yes, by valve not putting in “dwarf” as a tag to make it easier for its customers to search for games the entire fucking genre dies. Put ASoIaF fans on suicide watch lmfao

                • wildginger@lemmy.myserv.one
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                  2 years ago

                  I think the people with the condition are the ones who said the term can be offensive, which is why valve was not gung ho on using it.

                  I dont think its really up to you on if their opinion on their own insults is a bad take or not. Do you step in like this about other insults and slurs for other people?

                • mathemachristian[he]@lemm.ee
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                  2 years ago

                  No you are trying to extrapolate from what I said into some generic ideal that I supposedly have. That’s not extending someones logic, thats strawmanning.