I think most people are just totally unaware of the origins---I sure was until I spent a bit of time here. It's become common parlance in gaming/need circles as a term of self-reference in the same way weeb has, so I see people who have never set foot in 4chan using the term that way (usually in the shortened form). Definitely a red flag for me if I see it used as a genuine insult, though, since it comes off much more sinister.
I believe it was also used in Letterkenny in the form of "D*gens", so it's likely a bunch of people picked it up there with no other connotations except funny Canadian people.
also used occasionally in some furry circles in a similar way
not exactly a "reclaiming" but like as a "fuck you, we don't care what you call us" thing
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I think most people are just totally unaware of the origins---I sure was until I spent a bit of time here. It's become common parlance in gaming/need circles as a term of self-reference in the same way weeb has, so I see people who have never set foot in 4chan using the term that way (usually in the shortened form). Definitely a red flag for me if I see it used as a genuine insult, though, since it comes off much more sinister.
Dogwhistles in a nutshell.
I believe it was also used in Letterkenny in the form of "D*gens", so it's likely a bunch of people picked it up there with no other connotations except funny Canadian people.
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also used occasionally in some furry circles in a similar way
not exactly a "reclaiming" but like as a "fuck you, we don't care what you call us" thing
the origins are from maths by way of poorly balanced magic the gathering formats, dammit.