Bret Devereaux

"problematic" And it isn't even close.https://twitter.com/irgarner/status/1400918256542703617 …

Oh my yes. It's also misused in its common meaning! It should mean "open to debate or discussion" because it is the result of something being problematized but it gets used as a fancy way to say 'problem' (as in 'a problem issue') which is to say it gets used to mean 'bad.'

My grievance is that it typically obscures the kind of "bad" you mean-- like it becomes a weak way of saying racist, sexist, imperialist, ableist, etc. Just say what the problem is, folks!

Absolutely, though I think it gets used that way in part because it has a bit less sting than saying something is racist. because 'problematic' is less specific and so more ambiguous. But of course that's not great, since people should be specific in their analysis.

I agree. That's exactly why people use it in academic contexts, in my experience. @Joshua_A_Tait @joestieb @pasutht and others can attest that my rule in grad seminars is: If you use "problematic," you have to bring cookies next time. If you use it as a noun, bring beer.

It gets used that way in a lot of pop-cultural analysis too because if you say a text is 'racist' then people feel they have to stop enjoying it, or are bad for doing so. 'Problematic' doesn't come with the same implications.

totally. it's a weasel word.

yeah, but mine is worse: "learning outcomes"