Post Ayf6Pjk9Z27QJttAxs by stevendbrewer@wandering.shop
 (DIR) More posts by stevendbrewer@wandering.shop
 (DIR) Post #AyeypRWV861bhtFYXY by interfluidity@zirk.us
       2025-09-28T08:58:48Z
       
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       why are they referred to as “scare quotes”? who is supposed to be scared?
       
 (DIR) Post #AyezrdK2Ketupm1nfs by jilleduffy@mastodon.social
       2025-09-28T09:10:21Z
       
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       @interfluidity “you”
       
 (DIR) Post #Ayf0pGXg9lVRYfqOi8 by interfluidity@zirk.us
       2025-09-28T09:21:14Z
       
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       @jilleduffy “boo!”
       
 (DIR) Post #Ayf6Pjk9Z27QJttAxs by stevendbrewer@wandering.shop
       2025-09-28T10:23:48Z
       
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       @interfluidity By calling them "scare quotes," you're trying to make the person who used them scared.
       
 (DIR) Post #AyganD2fzPvLdEcazQ by marick@mstdn.social
       2025-09-29T03:38:54Z
       
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       @interfluidity My understanding is that scare quotes is an acknowledgement that quote marks are often used to cast doubt on the “truth” or “sincerity” or “believability” of a word or idea (or of that word’s applicability in the current situation). “Scare” isn’t the best word to describe what’s being done to the reader, but what would be a better and equally memorable word? (Anyway, the quote-technique aims to way overdo casting doubt, so an equally overwrought description for it seems fitting)