this post was submitted on 19 Oct 2023
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May be an obvious thing to everybody else, but what do you mean by spook? Where I'm from we're careful using that word.
It means the same as "spy", in my experience.
I was thinking less "spy" and more "fingermen" like in V for Vendetta but more secretive.
A spook is a CIA officer or maybe NSA (or at least some sort of spy if you're using the term more loosely).
What’s the implication/meaning where you’re from? And where is that (if you’re comfortable sharing) so we all don’t put our foot in it when travelling there?
Not OP, but in the U.S. it's an older racial slur for a black person.
Wow TIL thank you so much. I’ve literally only ever known it to mean “spy” so this is immensely valuable knowledge.
I've only ever heard it used in very rural areas and only by old people, so I'm not sure how relevant it is anymore. But, probably best to read the crowd before talking about spies or ghosts I guess.
That’s very sensible and measured advice, DickFiasco. Thank you.
(Is there a Lemmy /rimjobsteve yet?)
Covert government agent. Usually FBI, CIA, or spec ops
Anyone from the three letter national security agencies.
Yeah it’s really best to translate that as Geist