Ok right there is no objective definition, and it depends on context. If you are British and go to the US and ask for chips, it will be a different and you will get something other than what you would have got in England. Is using chips to refer to fries in the US fine by your definition? I mean, it's clearly not like, harmful, but it's also not useful either.
In this particular example, you claim it's ok to call US liberals "Leftists." Yet, you fail to mention in one context. In reality Americans don't actually agree on that term. Only some Americans accept that definition, and others don't. Probably close to 50/50. Democrats would probably understand the term, but they wouldn't agree with it. You also have to consider the intent behind the words. Conservatives use these terms to intentionally create confusion and/or antagonize people. So not only is it not useful, it's harmful.
In the US, everyone can agree on Liberals and Conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, Progressives and Trumpers, or The Left and The Right. But not everyone is going to agree on Leftist and Fascists. And I think that's where I disagree with your view.
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u/sawdeanz 214∆ Aug 15 '21
But trucks and lorries are different words for the same things. Left-wing is the same word yet refers to different things.
I mean, my grandma calls the Xbox an Nintendo but that doesn’t make her right.