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Small-Scale Question Sunday for June 4, 2023

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Interesting topic given blue/red ethnogenesis. ‘Fake’ seems mostly used by the right. ‘Retarded’ is apolitical in general use but if it’s part of a polemic the person using it is almost certainly right wing. ‘Abuse’ is like that too- leftists rant about creepy or predatory behavior but are usually less Frank.

For not so controversial examples, anyone under 60 pronouncing the wh is almost assuredly a very partisan Republican.

For not so controversial examples, anyone under 60 pronouncing the wh is almost assuredly a very partisan Republican.

What do you mean by this?

A small number of American English speakers pronounce the first sound in whilst differently from in will. These speakers exhibit the usual partisan variation if they’re social security(actually most of them are old blacks, but whatever), but are universally partisan republicans if they’re younger. The regional epicenter is Oklahoma and northern Texas, but even within white, blue collar Fort Worth dwellers pronouncing whip like it has an h in it is a tell tale of being very conservative.