• merc@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    Languages evolve in weird ways. Pedophile comes from “pedo” child and “phile” for love. It could just be a mother or father, someone who loves children. But, it has been used to describe people who love children, but in the wrong way. Similarly, homophobe has been used for people who hate gays, but the “phobe” part is about fear not hate. Also, “homo” isn’t necessarily homosexual, it could be homogeniety. Homophobes could be people who are afraid of people of their own race, but instead we’ve decided it’s the term to use for people who hate or are angry at homosexuality.