Chuck Palahniuk takes credit for ‘snowflake’ term, thinks the Left needs to get its sh*t together

'There is a kind of new Victorianism'

Brad Pitt and Edward Norton in 1999's Fight Club (20th Century Fox)

Though it’s become a go-to slur for Trump supporters sounding off on Fox News, the term ‘snowflake’ started out among the Left, a way of criticising its own for being too sensitive, too easily outraged and too entitled.

If it rings a bell, it’s because it originated in Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club novel, the Tyler Durden line being notably emphasised in David Fincher’s 1999 film adaptation.

Asked about the popularisation of the term by the Evening Standard, Palahniuk said: “It does come from Fight Club. There is a line, ‘You are not special. You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake.’”

You could argue the film is about rejecting the kind of slacktivism that is widespread today in favour of actual action (albeit the pyromaniacal kind). Palahniuk does take issue with this generation’s mindset.

“There is a kind of new Victorianism,” he said. “Every generation gets offended by different things but my friends who teach in high school tell me that their students are very easily offended.”

He believes in the face of a renewed Right under Trump, the Left needs to change its approach.

“The modern Left is always reacting to things, once they get their show on the road culturally they will stop being so offended.” He claimed, though added: “That’s just my bullsh*t opinion.”