LLMs are not moral subjects and don’t possess subjective experience, and it’s socially harmful to pretend like they do.

The idea that “clanker” is an offensive term is laughable.

That said, people using it sure do seem to intend it as an (ironic?) slur. It’s kind of gross if someone’s response to something they don’t like is to try to invent a new slur-shaped thing? Like, this is not an act of structural creativity. It’s following an established playbook and it’s not a pretty one.

It’s possible for someone who’s subjected to a slur to reclaim it. It is not possible to redeem the act of directing slurs externally. Being ironic about doing is an excuse to justify engaging in patterns of behavior that we all know are destructive. “What if I could slur but for good” is some sort of adolescent fantasy.

Also, using language intended to emotionally wound something implies that it has emotions, which, see my first point. Insulting an LLM in personal terms is still humanizing it.

“Clanker”: 2/10, do not recommend.

(It gets 1 point for at least not being a real slur, which I guess is how low my standards are these days)