But the person replying isn’t saying that Caitlyn ought to be referred to by her former name. In fact, they aren’t actually using it to refer to her at all. They’re merely mentioning that it exists, which is appropriate in some contexts.

If I were going over medical records with my doctor, she would be fine to ask if (deadname) was my name, because it’s for a necessary purpose. That’s different from using it to refer to me.

Also, if Caitlyn is offended by seeing that name, she’s going to have an awfully rude awakening coming under the current administration. I think the time for subtlety is past on that front.

Would I say “Trump only sees you as a cotton-picking n----r” to a black Trump supporter? Yeah, if the context was right (like it is in the example). Hard r and all. Because it’s true - that is what Trump thinks, even if he’s smart enough not to say it (often).

That’s not the same as me calling them the n-word, I’m stating what someone else thinks.

Of course I wouldn’t call a black person the n-word. Not because I’m afraid of the word itself, but because I genuinely don’t believe in the image of black people that word was meant to create.

But Trump absolutely does. And it’s ok to call a spade a spade. Important, even.

“There is currently an ongoing genocide against trans people in the United States. I am begging you to take this seriously, even if you’re going to joke about it. Especially if you’re going to joke about it, because humor is powerful and words have consequences.”

I agree… which is why I think this tweet is actually spot on. Sometimes it’s actually more important to say the n-word, hard r and all, because to soften it would be to soften the danger.

When we talk about the Holocaust, we don’t say Hitler “unalived people” or “put them to sleep.” We show them the pile of shoes. We describe the evil in detail, because that’s going to galvanize people.

That’s not the same thing as disrespecting trans people. It’s recognizing the danger and not coddling the people who are facing that danger. Yes, words hurt, but the kind of stuff Trump has in store for people like us will hurt a whole lot more than if you called me by my birth name. It doesn’t help anyone to sugarcoat it.

Obviously context is important. In meatspace it’s much more important to create friction and pushback. If you’re moderating a platform it’s important to, well, moderate.

But on social media, attention (good or bad) is currency. So ignoring can be a good strategy.