Is the term 'trap' a slur (or is it meant to be offensive)?

[Twisted Crow]

Serious question, as I've been trying to clear up some confusion on my end. Both in and out of this community, I have been getting mixed responses without really much explanation as to why it is or isn't.

I also wanted to play it safe and put this here instead of the Help section, given the context.

[Oniya]

The usual meaning of it is that the 'trap' is pretending to be the opposite gender (almost exclusively a male pretending to be female) to get sex from a straight person of the same gender.  As such, it implies a dishonest/predatory intent on the part of the 'trap'.

On the forums, it's not considered a slur in the RP context ('looking for trap') in the same way that 'futa' is not considered a slur.  When talking to people in an out-of-character sense, it is considered offensive (similarly with regards to 'futa'.)

[Twisted Crow]

Ah, so it's more of intent and/or usage thing?

[Twisted Crow]

Oh wait, I read that last part wrong. Nevermind. 

[Oniya]

Oh wait, I read that last part wrong. Nevermind. 

Shorter version:

You can call RP characters 'traps'.
You can not call real people 'traps'. 

[Twisted Crow]

Ah, I see! My thanks for the clarification. 

[Sara Nilsson]

Oniya answered it perfectly. Though I wish it would be considered a slur in RP too.. but thats me :)

Personally I fucking HATE the term, i find it so incredibly insulting to us.

[Haibane]

Clearly how a person feels about it varies between individuals. Within an RP I often find it sexy in a slightly derogatory way in the same way that bitch or slut can be sexy when used during sex as dirty talk (either IRL or RP) but its 100% unacceptable in almost all other contexts.

[Fox Lokison]

It's incredibly derogatory, especially when used in the real world, and since it's often directed at trans women, contributes to the idea that trans women are just trying to trap or trick straight men into bed.

While I've grown kind of numb to it as a term, I can honestly say I would consider it a slur. Mostly because fetishization relies on consent. If someone's okay with being called a trap, futa, whatever, that's one thing, but it's one if those terms that's bled out and been used to describe and sexualize entire groups of people that did not consent to it.

I could go into the history that paints trans women as sexual deviants and sex objects, but eh. Point being, between two consenting folks, it is what it is, but the wider implications of the term are negative and in cases, harmful to the wider community.

[Yukina]

It's incredibly derogatory, especially when used in the real world, and since it's often directed at trans women, contributes to the idea that trans women are just trying to trap or trick straight men into bed.

While I've grown kind of numb to it as a term, I can honestly say I would consider it a slur. Mostly because fetishization relies on consent. If someone's okay with being called a trap, futa, whatever, that's one thing, but it's one if those terms that's bled out and been used to describe and sexualize entire groups of people that did not consent to it.

I could go into the history that paints trans women as sexual deviants and sex objects, but eh. Point being, between two consenting folks, it is what it is, but the wider implications of the term are negative and in cases, harmful to the wider community.

Seconded.

[Andol]

It's incredibly derogatory, especially when used in the real world, and since it's often directed at trans women, contributes to the idea that trans women are just trying to trap or trick straight men into bed.

While I've grown kind of numb to it as a term, I can honestly say I would consider it a slur. Mostly because fetishization relies on consent. If someone's okay with being called a trap, futa, whatever, that's one thing, but it's one if those terms that's bled out and been used to describe and sexualize entire groups of people that did not consent to it.

I could go into the history that paints trans women as sexual deviants and sex objects, but eh. Point being, between two consenting folks, it is what it is, but the wider implications of the term are negative and in cases, harmful to the wider community.

I have to agree with the way you put it there Fox