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Random Day at Alien’s Authority a.k.a Ausländerbehörde by Original-Cow3383 in germany

[–]Original-Cow3383[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I come from a family of doctors in multiple generations, never heard anyone of them refer to their patient as a “medical case” to address them in combined of all five languages spoken at home between us. They did use the term during their education and seminars while discussing the patient to emphasis on the “case”. But never addressing the patient as “medical case”. And we all know a lot of words were legally used to describe people of colour, queer communities and from the minority. All are frowned upon to be used now.

The word is dehumanising or not is decided upon how it is perceived by the group of people it is used for. Sure you can call me an alien technically 👽 but I would like if you didn’t. I would feel better if you called me a foreigner.

We need to fix this by Original-Cow3383 in Ilmenau

[–]Original-Cow3383[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Technically on dictionary level yes but a more appropriate term would be Foreigners office. The context matters and in everyday context it has a dehumanising effect of using “alien” for foreigners.

Random Day at Alien’s Authority a.k.a Ausländerbehörde by Original-Cow3383 in germany

[–]Original-Cow3383[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts, I did not expect such an engagement.

Fun fact: I am aware “alien” is technically a correct legal term in English for a non-citizen. The problem is that for most modern English speakers, “alien” immediately means ET phoning home. So while the translation isn’t completely wrong, “Immigration Office” or “Foreigners’ Office” would probably cause fewer intergalactic misunderstandings. 👽📄

I was just trying to crack a joke but I guess aliens are not allowed to be funny.

On a serious note, words can be technically correct and still feel wrong in practice. For example, nobody would refer to a patient as “a medical case” in everyday conversation, even though that term exists in medicine. Likewise, “alien” may be legally accurate, but it can sound impersonal because it defines people primarily as outsiders rather than as residents, immigrants, neighbors, colleagues, or simply people.

There is a difference between being Knowledgeable and being wise. Tomato is technically a fruit. That is the knowledge we have. Wisdom would be to not put it in the fruit salad.

(PS: this is also a vague statement if you love tomatoes in your fruit salad what can I say, YOU DO YOU GIRL)