21–30 of 34 posts
Tech has a misogyny problem? No way. > It took some years for me to realise that Linda was named after the porn star Linda Lovelace. It was a subtle joke and allusion to Ada by the language's designers Try and read this and then explain how this is an appropriate "subtle joke", "allusion to Ada [Lovelace]" and "best name ever for a computer language": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Lovelace#Charges_against...
Tech has a misogyny problem? No way. > It took some years for me to realise that Linda was named after the porn star Linda Lovelace. It was a subtle joke and allusion to Ada by the language's designers Try and read this and then explain how this is an appropriate "subtle joke", "allusion to Ada [Lovelace]" and "best name ever for a computer language": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Lovelace#Charges_against...
Only misogynists have problems with porn or pornstars.
Debatable but not actually relevant: This is about bringing "porn or pornstars" into an everyday work context, not about them as a thing in itself. I would rather say that "Only misogynists have problems with keeping porn out of programming languages".
Tech has a misogyny problem? No way. > It took some years for me to realise that Linda was named after the porn star Linda Lovelace. It was a subtle joke and allusion to Ada by the language's designers Try and read this and then explain how this is an appropriate "subtle joke", "allusion to Ada [Lovelace]" and "best name ever for a computer language": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Lovelace#Charges_against...
Only misogynists have problems with porn or pornstars.
Tech has a misogyny problem? No way. > It took some years for me to realise that Linda was named after the porn star Linda Lovelace. It was a subtle joke and allusion to Ada by the language's designers Try and read this and then explain how this is an appropriate "subtle joke", "allusion to Ada [Lovelace]" and "best name ever for a computer language": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Lovelace#Charges_against...
First of all, sexist jokes are a bad thing, but we need to keep in mind the meaning of the word "misogyny": hatred of women. While sexist jokes desensitize men to sexism in general, which can lead to misogyny, the knee-jerk reaction you're having is beginning to resemble crying wolf.
As for the name Linda, it is a clever reference to a person who shares the same surname as the person for which another programming language is named. No doubt the choice of the person was motivated by that person's fame and no doubt that choice was immature, unprofessional and sexist. Likewise, calling it a "best name ever for a computer language" is probably equally immature and unprofessional.
But the fact is that the reference really is clever and a subtle joke. I agree with you that it's not appropriate, but it's not really the reason to cry "misogyny". Criticizing the OP for being childish, unprofessional and sexist would have been enough without trying to demonize him.
What exactly is so brilliant about naming a programming language after a porn star, especially one famous subjected to sexual abuse? How on earth is it a "subtle reference" to Ada Lovelace? What do they have in common, apart from both being women? I don't understand the premise for this article.
They have a surname in common, it seems. The article calls Linda a porn star, but she became an anti-porn activist. I call sexism on the article for childishly thinking that loose association with sex makes something "best ever", and double sexism for failing to acknowledge her choice to stop .
Totally agree on the rest of your comment.
Tech has a misogyny problem? No way. > It took some years for me to realise that Linda was named after the porn star Linda Lovelace. It was a subtle joke and allusion to Ada by the language's designers Try and read this and then explain how this is an appropriate "subtle joke", "allusion to Ada [Lovelace]" and "best name ever for a computer language": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Lovelace#Charges_against...
sigh I know I shouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole, but I really don't think overreactions like these help anyone. First of all, sexist jokes are a bad thing, but we need to keep in mind the meaning of the word "misogyny": hatred of women. While sexist jokes desensitize men to sexism in general, which can lead to misogyny, the knee-jerk reaction you're having is beginning to resemble crying wolf. As for the name…
That said, I think the author was probably unaware of those circumstances.
The page says, about C#, > C#, which is also a musical note one semitone higher than C. Which is true enough, but am I the only person to think that the original idea must surely have been to signify "(C++)++", with the two "++"es one on top of the other? (See: http://imgur.com/8On6Stn ) [EDIT: Thanks, wtetzner : apparently Anders Hejlsberg had the good taste to agree with me :-).]
Tech has a misogyny problem? No way. > It took some years for me to realise that Linda was named after the porn star Linda Lovelace. It was a subtle joke and allusion to Ada by the language's designers Try and read this and then explain how this is an appropriate "subtle joke", "allusion to Ada [Lovelace]" and "best name ever for a computer language": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Lovelace#Charges_against...
sigh I know I shouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole, but I really don't think overreactions like these help anyone. First of all, sexist jokes are a bad thing, but we need to keep in mind the meaning of the word "misogyny": hatred of women. While sexist jokes desensitize men to sexism in general, which can lead to misogyny, the knee-jerk reaction you're having is beginning to resemble crying wolf. As for the name…
You are correct in that the definition of misogyny is the hatred or dislike of women or girls. Misogyny can be manifested in the denigration or sexual objectification of women and in entrenched prejudice against women. From Wikipedia (first item in the definition) "Misogyny .... is a central part of sexist prejudice and ideology and, as such, is an important basis for the oppression of females in male-dominated societies. Misogyny is manifested in many different ways, from jokes to pornography..." (Allan G. Johnson).
The attitude expressed in the linked article is that pornography is an appropriate (and amusing) subject to link to something to be used in academic and professional contexts. Further, that it's amusing that pornography is linked to a prominent woman simply by virtue of her surname. In doing so, those who named the programming language and those who find it amusing are denigrating both Linda Boreman and Ada Lovelace and expressing and normalising the attitude that this is amusing and appropriate. I find this a clear case of misogyny.
> I really don't think overreactions like these help anyone.
I don't think it's an overreaction, and I would think that the appropriate reaction is to condemn these instances of misogyny. In doing so, hopefully we can create an environment and industry less hostile to women and girls. I'd say that would help quite a few people.