By 2011, the term SJW was used in a negative sense on failfandomanon, the same forum that frequently made disparaging jokes about Shetterly. Īlthough Shetterly was roundly condemned by much of livejournal fandom, this use of the term appears to have spread on livejournal. The title of the blog is probably a reference to a 2009 livejournal post by coffeeandink, "Will Shetterly: DO NOT ENGAGE". This blog appears to have been set up in November 2009 by science fiction writer Will Shetterly after his entanglement in Racefail '09, although anons at fail_fandomanon thought he could have backdated the early blog posts or changed the title of the blog. For more about how the term social justice has been used in fandom, see Social Justice and Fandom.Īccording to Know Your Meme, the first pejorative use of Social Justice Warrior was on the blog Social Justice Warriors: Do Not Engage. In 2011, long before Gamergate, fans discussed the role of social justice activism in fandom in positive terms. The term originally was viewed as a compliment. The Montreal Gazette used the term in a 1991 article on a jazz festival. History of the Term Social Justice Warrior The application of the term to refer to another may have the same outcome as invoking Godwin's Law, as the term has become so culturally laden as to squelch or halt further serious discussion. And some fans hold political opinions that are opposed to the goals of social justice (see Puppygate). However, some fans who complain about SJWs may be complaining about genuine social activism because they don't want social justice issues impinging on their fannish experience (i.e. We used to refer to people who did SJ as "SJers," but it has morphed into "SJW" or "SJ Warriors." It refers to the misuse of social justice terms to get your own way in fandom and tear down disagreement. "SJ" stands for "social justice," right, but not actual social justice. The acronym "SJW" is sometimes explained as "Social Justice Wanker," probably rarely by those who would consider themselves Social Justice Warriors.Ĭomplaints about "SJWs" are frequent on Fail_fandomanon, where the prevailing opinion seems to be that wankers, trolls, and the ignorant are misapplying social justice concepts and making social justice look bad: But it definitely still has that same feel– it only seems to be used ironically when it’s in a positive tone." To the majority of fans, however, the phrase remains a derogatory one. Outside of fandom, some activists have attempted to repurpose the phrase, although as one fan noted, it is used in "the way some women refer to themselves as bitches with pride. The terms "Social Justice Warrior" and especially the abbreviation SJW are generally used pejoratively. "Social Justice Warrior" is a term of nonfannish origin that is used frequently in fandom due to interest in social justice issues in parts of fandom. 1 History of the Term Social Justice Warrior.