The Sword and Laser discussion

I realized after I read the book the first time that when I was gushing about it to other people that I didn't really want to use the word "rogga", the derogatory corruption of "orogene". It felt like a dirty word to me after all the time the book spends discussing it, examining it from different angles. From the way that Fulcrum members don't use it, to the way a certain character always does, preferring to use a word considered crude to express how bad their whole situation is.

It seemed fairly obvious to me that it is supposed to be an in-world equivalent to the n-word from real world English. And that, at its heart, the word means "inhuman", "not like us and lesser". I'm white. I'm never going to completely get it, I don't think. But I like to think that this book helped me get it a little better, and that's a good example of why fiction has value beside just escapement and entertainment. It can also promote empathy.

I'd really really like to hear it if someone who identifies as African-American or other nationality of African descent could chime in with their reaction. What was reading this book like for you?

and that's a good example of why fiction has value beside just escapement and entertainment. It can also promote empathy.

I think you cut to the heart of it.
SF&F settings in particular let us take a step back from our own culture and any personal stakes we might have, and find empathy, oddly, through greater objectivity. Octavia Butler spoke about this kind of thing when talking about her own work in SF&F.

What I appreciated in the TFS was the nuanced way that different characters had a different relationship to the word and chose to use or not use it.

A related pop cultural and more comedic look at this idea is the Season 2 premiere of Black-ish on ABC. It's currently available on Hulu btw.

Or if you don't have time/access to it, here is an interview with a show creator talking about the relevant episode.

http://www.vulture.com/2015/09/blacki...

I can take a stab at this from another r-word point of view.
My daughter Down syndrome and had a stroke at birth that has made a wreck of her fine and gross motor control on her right side as well as affecting her ability to self regulate simple things.

I was a teacher when she was born and kept a gallery of photos on the wall in my room. The 7th graders I taught frequently bandied about the word 'retarded' and I had a set teachable moment in my back pocket. I would keep the perp after class and show him/her the pictures and ask if they knew what Down syndrome was. If they didn't, I would explain briefly and then repeat their usage of 'retarded' and say very clearly that 'x was not, is not, nor ever will be retarded. My daughter likely will be. Best to just not use that word because you never know who will hear it." Then offer to write a pass to the next class.

And yes, being part of the secret club is isolating and exhausting. My daughter is 13 now (eep!) and has amazing boundary issues, which means that everyone is immediately her best friend and gets to hear about all our business. Fortunately, she is still young and cute enough that it's barely OK, but there will be a point in the near future when people instinctively take two steps back instead of one step forward, if you know what I mean.

And if you're seriously bored, I keep a blog about my experiences here.

Steve wrote: "And if you're seriously bored, I keep a blog about my experiences here. "

I read an handful. I want to say something approving and encouraging here, but all the words that are coming to mind are the inspiration language and cliches that annoy me so much as a person visibly suffering a chronic illness. Blech. So yeah. Approval and encouragement.