Read on Twitter
I read the entire thread (don't ask me why). For those who make better choices, the highlights (with uncharitable paraphrasing) are:
1/ https://twitter.com/FiloSottile/status/1291774045013278722
1/ https://twitter.com/FiloSottile/status/1291774045013278722
A person determined to discuss Thriller and LOTR. They brought this up a dozen or more times.
They also felt that if only 1 million americans were affected by terms such as master/slave then they should just be ignored until they go away.
2/
They also felt that if only 1 million americans were affected by terms such as master/slave then they should just be ignored until they go away.
2/
Aforementioned person was also convinced that if everyone realised that non-black people have been enslaved that the issue would resolve itself.
3/
3/
"If we change our terms now, what happens if language evolves _again_ and we have to do it again in 20 years??"
"I can't get anyone to update <some irrelevant doc>, so there's no point in trying to do anything on this."
4/
"I can't get anyone to update <some irrelevant doc>, so there's no point in trying to do anything on this."
4/
Multiple people insisting that they needed hard data before they could consider caring about other human beings.
"I, a white guy, succeeded in pursuing a career in STEM, so the idea that anyone could be deterred by racist language is ridiculous"
5/
"I, a white guy, succeeded in pursuing a career in STEM, so the idea that anyone could be deterred by racist language is ridiculous"
5/
Trying to be considerate of others is patronizing.
"Language cannot be harmful. It can hurt ones feelings but it cannot cause harm because feelings are just that...feeling." (direct quote)
"Basically, it's your fault if my words make you feel bad"
6/
"Language cannot be harmful. It can hurt ones feelings but it cannot cause harm because feelings are just that...feeling." (direct quote)
"Basically, it's your fault if my words make you feel bad"
6/
Someone who wanted 'folks' to be banned as offensive. Someone piped up to note that 'folk' => german 'Volk' => naziism.
And someone else who claimed that "improper contractions" like "y'all" were insulting people who were less educated.
7/
And someone else who claimed that "improper contractions" like "y'all" were insulting people who were less educated.
7/
"spagetti code" is offensive to Italians.
"Binary" might be offensive to non-binary people.
We can't make everyone happy, so we shouldn't try.
8/
"Binary" might be offensive to non-binary people.
We can't make everyone happy, so we shouldn't try.
8/
This road leads to totalitarian dictatorships in which people get jailed for saying the word "communist" in public.
"Slavery of humans is bad, but my cat is effectively my slave, so the term slave applied to non-humans shouldn't offend anyone."
9/9
"Slavery of humans is bad, but my cat is effectively my slave, so the term slave applied to non-humans shouldn't offend anyone."
9/9
