#also glad we're adopting the test format for wider use

[velvetvexations]

Whenever these people discuss the term "theyfab," I have yet to see an argument that is even somewhat compelling. They're very good at dressing their takes in progressive sounding language, to where I sometimes second-guess myself. But I firmly and unwaveringly believe that such a word has no place in good-faith discussion of just about anything.

Whenever people fail the "theyfab test*" there's three real arguments I see:

1. Minimizing or outright denying the word's origins.

"Theyfab" came from 4chan, where it was (and still is) used to harass trans people.

Most of the time, people admit this origin when making this argument. Sometimes they bring it up as misinformation that needs to be addressed. Other times, it's to say that they're using it in a totally different way than that. They've reclaimed it, despite neither being "they" or "fab."

2. Trans women have gone through so much that they deserve to take it out on another group

This one is even more self-evidently bad. No, it's not "punching up" to complain about and make fun of another group of trans people. No, your (very real) suffering doesn't make you inherently morally righteous.

3. The TMEs are simply misinterpreting what we mean

This is the "piss on the poor" website, but your bullying is quite difficult to interpret as anything else. Some people truly are trying to use the word in the way you say it's being used, but a lot of discourse is transparently not about transmisogyny being weaponized by non-binary people at all.

How is complaining about trenders theyfabs not "putting in the work" but wanting to be trans anyways relevant? How is making fun of cringe queer kids theyfabs for liking Cavetown or Lemon Demon or Will Wood or whatever other musical artist you've decided to hate relevant? If "theyfab" is truly a word for AFAB non-binary people who weaponize transmisogyny, then how do you know that this one feminine person you saw on the street one time that looked a bit too queer in your opinion is a theyfab? How do you even know that person was non-binary? How do you know that person was AFAB?

You're functionally identical to the people who watch "woke cringe compilations" on YouTube.

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*the "theyfab test" involves searching a blog for the word "theyfab." If there are no results, or the results that come up are criticizing the use of the word, then they pass.

This is all very, very well said anon!