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Sherman Alexie's avatar

If a Native American author (or one pretending to be Native) includes their self-given "Indian name" on their cover, as in John Running Wolf Smith then that's a distinct kind of signaling that has us Native authors laughing with contempt while a certain type of non-Native reader oohs and ahhs.

Bob's avatar

Similarly, if the subject name contains the word _science_, it is less likely to be rigorous.

Chemistry may be rigorous.

Chemical Science will be less likely.

Chemical Studies will peg the bogosity meter.

Grape Soda's avatar

I did find out that self deprecation is sometimes taken literally, now I kinda know why. If I’d been higher status it might have come off as intended humor rather than a confession

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Comment deleted
Apr 10, 2022
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Rob Henderson's avatar

How much we tolerate certain kinds of bad behavior from people seems to be an indicator of whether we believe they are status competitors or not.