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sixes_and_sevens comments on Personal examples of semantic stopsigns - Less Wrong Discussion

44 Post author: Alexei 06 December 2013 02:12AM

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Comment author: sixes_and_sevens 06 December 2013 11:38:03AM 3 points [-]

"Problematic" is a word that sees a lot of action when referring to socially-questionable implications. Some of us may remember it from the discussions on (HP:MoR spoiler) Urezvbar'f 'Sevqtvat'. While it has a lot of legitimate function, it's also a very effective way of saying "I don't really like this, but don't want to examine why, just in case my dislike isn't as well-founded as I want it to be".

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 06 December 2013 03:20:34PM 4 points [-]

That's odd. I've generally seen 'problematic' followed by an elaborate discussion of exactly how and why, often in excruciating detail.

Comment author: philh 06 December 2013 03:03:20PM 4 points [-]

PG gives roughly the same interpretation of "inappropriate".

"Inappropriate" is the null criticism. It's merely the adjective form of "I don't like it."

(Though I think it sometimes means "other people don't like it".)