‘Clanker’ seems to be gaining traction as a ‘slur’ used against artificial intelligence models and robots.
I’ve had it directed at me for having a magnet implant, and it has happened enough times that I figured I’d start a thread. What are everyone’s thoughts on it? Do you take offence to this ‘slur’? Have you had it used against you?
I personally think it is rather stupid, though can appreciate it used in the context of AI slop accounts, but I’m interested to hear the thoughts of all the cyborgs here.
Considering what I want, I’m probably going to get a lot more insults than what a tiny magnet can garner… I don’t have a choice but to get thick armor installed…
I think that it’s a bit annoying. It shows collectivism and the lack of respect for individuality that comes with it. But at least you’re getting to know people for who they really are…
I did not know about this new “ slur “. But as soon as a new word ( and I emphasis on the new ) is used to stigmatize, belittle or offense someone, it become an insult which I won’t accept. But, instead of taking a word as an insult, I’ll take it and reference myself as this new slur. If enough people of a community does this, you reuse it and empty it Substance as a slur, and filling it with a new meaning.
Of course, it only works for some relatively new words, that does not have much impact or cultural anchors yet. So yeah, if someone ever tells me I’m a “ clanker “ I might just say yes.
clanker comes from star wars in reference to battle droids. i’ve seen people use it recently as a social media trend to “invent a slur for robots” because human shaped robots and AI are becoming more and more prevalent.
if someone who isn’t a child called me a clanker for having implants in a serious context of trying to insult me, id just assume they are intellectually challenged and poorly socialised because clanker holds 0 historical weight and cyborgs aren’t an oppressed minority.
In general, there is very little someone can say to hurt my feelings, i can’t mentally lend the weight to an insult about having implants because i do not care if someone doesn’t like that i have them because i like them and thats my choice.
you can’t successfully attack me about something i am not insecure/ashamed/embarrassed about, that is the core of how insults work.
e2a: clanker is also just the wrong word for a human with tech implants, it’s for robots. can someone invent an actually funny insult for cyborgs? you filthy skin scanners gotta help me out here.
If clanker is a slur, and it’s used against an implantee (basically one of us) does that make us a protected class in legal terms?
Say if one of my coworkers called me a clanker openly while at work, would that be legally the same as using a racial / religious / nationality based slur? Would this be an automatic firing offence?
Meanwhile, back in reality, I’m sure HR would handle it poorly, if at all. I’m just curious about the potential ramifications.
