Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

GitHub threatens to shut down a repository for using the word 'retard'

github.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 845 posts

Re: GitHub threatens to shut down a repository for using the word 'retard'

#51

Post by waterlesscloud »

JoshTriplett wrote: post #24
general_failure wrote: post #13

Is there a list of objectionable words/language that one is not supposed to use? A quick search on the f-work gives thousands of hits on github.

Those aren't typically derogatory descriptions of people , though. Profanity isn't necessarily an issue; derogatory language is. I'd expect Github to take down repositories containing slurs of any kind, while leaving up things like https://github.com/nvbn/thefuck/

It took me about 1 minute find other repositories using derogatory descriptions of people. I didn't even have to use my imagination.

Re: GitHub threatens to shut down a repository for using the word 'retard'

#52

Post by avolcano »

kazinator wrote: post #45
avolcano wrote: post #6

Fine with me. It's an offensive term and GitHub has every right to police their service and ban content like this. Am I supposed to be concerned by this, and if so, why?

The noun "retard" is not considered profane. I don't think it would have to be bleeped over in broadcast television. It's also a verb which means to slow down. For example, it is necessary to retard the ignition timing of a gasoline engine, and more so at higher RPM, to prevent detonation.

Oh sure, but that's not the context it was being used here, and there's no indication that this was some sort of automated email that was sent purely because a use of the word was detected.

I don't think anyone's out there trying to ban the word "retard" for its non-derogatory usages. Seems like a weird straw-man to worry about.

Re: GitHub threatens to shut down a repository for using the word 'retard'

#53

Post by pilif »

kazinator wrote: post #45
avolcano wrote: post #6

Fine with me. It's an offensive term and GitHub has every right to police their service and ban content like this. Am I supposed to be concerned by this, and if so, why?

The noun "retard" is not considered profane. I don't think it would have to be bleeped over in broadcast television. It's also a verb which means to slow down. For example, it is necessary to retard the ignition timing of a gasoline engine, and more so at higher RPM, to prevent detonation.

context matters. Look at the diff that's linked. This had nothing to do with ignitions.

Re: GitHub threatens to shut down a repository for using the word 'retard'

#54

Post by spdustin »

aerovistae wrote: post #7
schneidmaster wrote: post #4

I am perfectly alright with this.

Can't say I am. People should be free to use the language they wish. The words that were offensive 200 years ago are laughable today. It's just such a superficial thing, almost arbitrarily deciding which words are 'sensitive' and which ones aren't, I cannot stand behind efforts to censor the world. Once upon a time 'idiot' was the more common word for the mentally disabled. Has GitHub banned 'idiot,' too? Good long w…

Yes, the developer had every right to say retard. 100% correct. And if they said it in front of me, I'd have every right to kick them, hard. Both of us will have paid a price, sure, but hey, freedom of speech wasn't violated.

You're free to call me a retard. I'm free to kick you for doing it. Everybody wins. But your calling me a retard isn't a divinely bestowed right to get away with it without a response just because you had the right to say it. GitHub chose to respond. The author chose to comply with the request. Done and done.

Re: GitHub threatens to shut down a repository for using the word 'retard'

#55

Post by aerovistae »

rtpg wrote: post #35
aerovistae wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't say I am. People should be free to use the language they wish. The words that were offensive 200 years ago are laughable today. It's just such a superficial thing, almost arbitrarily deciding which words are 'sensitive' and which ones aren't, I cannot stand behind efforts to censor the world. Once upon a time 'idiot' was the more common word for the mentally disabled. Has GitHub banned 'idiot,' too? Good long w…

>It's just such a superficial thing, almost arbitrarily deciding which words are 'sensitive' and which ones aren't This cannot be further from the truth. Words that are deemed offensive are deemed so because of the attitude and the meaning behind using these words The reason white people get yelled at for using n (don't know if I can post it on HN) is because it represents hundreds of years of oppression by white peo…

Have a nice look at this list and let me know if you'd like to ban all of these too. After all, they have context and actual loaded meanings, and in many cases represent hundreds of years of oppression.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs_by_ethnic...

Re: GitHub threatens to shut down a repository for using the word 'retard'

#56

Post by aerovistae »

KirinDave wrote: post #22
aerovistae wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't say I am. People should be free to use the language they wish. The words that were offensive 200 years ago are laughable today. It's just such a superficial thing, almost arbitrarily deciding which words are 'sensitive' and which ones aren't, I cannot stand behind efforts to censor the world. Once upon a time 'idiot' was the more common word for the mentally disabled. Has GitHub banned 'idiot,' too? Good long w…

> The words that were offensive 200 years ago are laughable today. Even if we take this at face value, we are not living 200 years ago. We're here now, and your words can have impact beyond what you realize. You're lucky that words don't affect you so. That's your good fortune. Some words evoke experiences and implications that can drive people to depression and suicide. Basic. Civility. Is. Not. Unreasonable. > my p…

Should we ban all these 'useless' words too? Like eggplant, spade, and oreo? After all, many people find them offensive.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs_by_ethnic...

Re: GitHub threatens to shut down a repository for using the word 'retard'

#58

Post by toehead2000 »

CoryG89 wrote: post #40

For people who don't see what's wrong here. The issue is not about whether the word 'retard' is or is not offensive to anyone. You need to consider that GitHub currently hosts a large percentage of the web's open source repositories. This is censorship plain and simple, something that IMO has no place in open source. The issue is that there are plenty of things some people might find offensive on GitHub but you dont…

A bunch of retards apparently.

Re: GitHub threatens to shut down a repository for using the word 'retard'

#59

Post by nightmiles »

aerovistae wrote: post #7
schneidmaster wrote: post #4

I am perfectly alright with this.

Can't say I am. People should be free to use the language they wish. The words that were offensive 200 years ago are laughable today. It's just such a superficial thing, almost arbitrarily deciding which words are 'sensitive' and which ones aren't, I cannot stand behind efforts to censor the world. Once upon a time 'idiot' was the more common word for the mentally disabled. Has GitHub banned 'idiot,' too? Good long w…

Would it be alright, then, if it said, "WebM for Black People?"

It isn't important to quibble over what words we consider offensive in the past, present, or future. The real problem is speaking about a classification of human being as being less than fully human or using those classifications as shortcuts for "inferior."

A person with darker skin is no less human than one with lighter skin. Similarly, two people with differing sets of abilities are both also fully human. Just because someone else is made of slightly different stuff doesn't make those differences fair game for ridicule.

Re: GitHub threatens to shut down a repository for using the word 'retard'

#60

Post by KirinDave »

aerovistae wrote: post #44
rtpg wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It's just such a superficial thing, almost arbitrarily deciding which words are 'sensitive' and which ones aren't This cannot be further from the truth. Words that are deemed offensive are deemed so because of the attitude and the meaning behind using these words The reason white people get yelled at for using n (don't know if I can post it on HN) is because it represents hundreds of years of oppression by white peo…

Good Lord, I have heard so many different takes on 'what makes something offensive.' My favorite was a teenager telling me only one person has to find something offensive before we have to all consider it as such and stop saying it. The fact that words "have context and actual loaded meanings" is besides the point. I am saying that these things come into fashion and then pass away. I'm sure you know it was only in th…

> I am saying that these things come into fashion and then pass away.

If words can come INTO fashion for various reasons, then some must be allowed to LEAVE fashion for other reasons. Letting them pass out of empathy is probably one of the most noble and equitable reasons we could have to change our language.

Your argument is so strange. You argue that language is fluid then get angry, confused and dismissive when people use that fact to change the world around them.

Post reply on HN