To be irritated by frequent references to 'snowflakes'

[DailyFaily]

I've noticed people using 'snowflake' as an mild insult a lot recently - here, Facebook, real life. It's usually with reference to something reasonably benign or not especially precious (just seen it on FB by someone saying not being allowed to smack your children leads to generation Snowflake, saw lots of it after Brexit/Trump from people suggesting those opposed to it should put up and shut up, saw it here on Thursday for someone who didn't want her nanny to do something which I think a lot of people would not like their paid childcare to do). I'm assuming it's a reference to Fight Club but I really haven't heard it referenced this way until the last few months which is odd given that fight club was released in 1999. I'm sure my irritation makes me a snowflake myself but does anyone find this annoying?

No.

It is increasingly pissing me off; it's the new 'political correctness gone mad', and generally used to silence voices that are expressing non-populist opinions.

You're the first person I've seen mention it or use it.

I've never herd of this but I presume it equates to the idea of being precious, when meant as an insult.

I think it's just a bit of a lazy name-call, and tends to be used by people who also advise getting a grip, talk about PFBs, pearl-clutching and over-thinking.

It is a bit PC-gone mad and as such does irritate me too because it tends to substitute for genuine debate

No, snowflake is the perfect word to describe some of the precious people on here and their oh so precious offspring.

I shall continue to use it - sorry. Nothing else comes close.

I've heard it a lot - the idea that my generation (20-30somethings) see themselves as "special snowflakes" because of how we were raised, and that it's at odds with the realities of the job market, housing market etc. It doesn't offend me per se, but using it as a way to shut down legitimate grievances ("Oh, he's just being a snowflake") is terrible imo.

I don't use many of these faddish words but have to say I also rather like the snowflake expression. Works for children and adults alike.... perfectly fits....

It's the perfect word for them.

YABU Op ❄

I don't like it, it's very sneery. And very over-used.

I think as long as it's used about someone who's being unnecessarily mollycoddled or expecting special treatment for no good reason, it's a perfectly suitable expression. It's not the expression that's a problem. It's the fact that some peoe are applying it to situations where you think it doesn't apply. And quite frankly, that could be true of many expressions.

Been around a while but definitely had a recent upsurge. Useful shorthand to know who to ignore!

I think there is so much name calling everywhere at the moment.

I have had a horrific amount of invective from people who don't know me and whose business it's none of who feel
unable to compute/reconcile my culture and my political leanings.

Frankly, they're lucky I stop at 'snowflake.'

YABAS

(You are being a snowflake)

I think it's just a bit of a lazy name-call, and tends to be used by people who also advise getting a grip, talk about PFBs, pearl-clutching and over-thinking

This ^, think it's used by people that tend to pick up the latest faddy word, often a little lacking in intelligence.

I thought it was a criticism of people who over protect their children. As in, their children are delicate like special snowflakes? I saw it in the news recently about 'snowflake students' at universities who aren't being made to grow up and manage their lives/studies/work etc.

I like it-it conjures up an accurate image in my mind.

It's not an expression that I have ever used (as far as I can remember) however i loved this article about America's new Snowflake -in-Chief: it seemed so apt.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/16/snowflake-in-chief-donald-trump

Is it the latest faddy word?

I remember it being used on chat forums years ago by moody teenagers who thought they were being all clever and sardonic.

Perhaps they just grew up into unoriginal adults and are the same people using it today. :o

No, snowflake is the perfect word to describe some of the precious people on here and their oh so precious offspring.

I haven't used it, personally, but I completely agree. I've only ever seen it here on Mumsnet, however.

Micheal gove used it when people complained about Boris comparing the eu to nazis?
(Later Boris got v offended when people compared the rise of trump to hitler, but that's by the by!)
Michael gove is a twat- the people who say snowflake are usually twats.

It's a way privileged people stop less priveleged people complaining about an injustice.

Don't know anything about the Fight Club reference though.

I think it's quite a lazy term, and I'm increasingly seeing it used to mean "anyone more left-wing than I am".

I don't like it used for kids, because it's the parents fault. But used towards adults, perfectly fine and bloody accurate. ' entitled' makes me wince though.