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

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

#661

Post by Torgo »

simeonf wrote: post #617
bduerst wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Free Speech" isn't a blank check to say and do whatever you want. Even SCOTUS says that direct threats of violence aren't protected by the first amendment. I'm tired of reading people nebulously defining "free speech philosophies" online to act as a shield to justify nefarious behavior on private property. Free speech exists as a protection from government censorship, and it doesn't protect you for acting like a dic…

Worst xkcd ever. http://sealedabstract.com/rants/re-xkcd-1357-free-speech/ is a decent reply if less pithy.

Actually this is the worst xkcd: https://xkcd.com/457/

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

#662

Post by shkkmo »

kefka wrote: post #610
cmiles74 wrote: post #551

I don't understand how censoring something because "it's offensive to someone" came to be acceptable in the first place. Nearly everything is offensive to someone, it's simply too low a bar. I'm certainly not campaigning for more use of the terms "retard" and "retarded". On the other hand, I've experienced first hand the very common, reflexive and thoughtless use of these words. Whenever it's used in my presence I ma…

What's going on at Github is rather perverse. And it happens to be around the word "Meritocracy". Because of the "feels", the word meritocracy is a 'disempowering word'. It makes people with less skill feel 'less valuable'. So the impetus is to raise your skill? No. It's to devalue others who call you on it, or disregard your uninformed opinion. What this accumulates to is the Github rug in the headquarters. "The Uni…

Feminism is not to blame. Feminism is wonderful and empowering ideology.

There is a distinct difference between the ideology of feminism and the behavior of a specific group of feminists. Lumping the two together like that is like blaming Islam for terrorists.

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

#663

Post by JungleGymSam »

seletz wrote: post #441
JungleGymSam wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, you should be. The problem is that people (perhaps you) are elevating something marginally offensive to something hateful and worth shutting down at all costs. The dragging down of minor offenses to serious offenses is a dangerous thing. It's surprising how little intellectual honesty there is in modern society. It's even more surprising here that some people (perhaps you) are willing to abandon any rational thi…

Oh wow -- this is actually a comment which IMO points out the real issue here. This sort of censorship/filter/whatever-you-call-it is bad because it add way too much value to words . So it's not about what is actually said or the context but only about words. By that logic it's completely PC if someone is actually offended but in such a way that no bad words are used. But as soon as a Bad Word (TM) is used -- bam. Th…

I think there may be a misunderstanding (could be my fault) because I don't know what you're talking about.

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

#665

Post by kefka »

shkkmo wrote: post #662
kefka wrote: post #610

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's going on at Github is rather perverse. And it happens to be around the word "Meritocracy". Because of the "feels", the word meritocracy is a 'disempowering word'. It makes people with less skill feel 'less valuable'. So the impetus is to raise your skill? No. It's to devalue others who call you on it, or disregard your uninformed opinion. What this accumulates to is the Github rug in the headquarters. "The Uni…

Feminism is not to blame. Feminism is wonderful and empowering ideology. There is a distinct difference between the ideology of feminism and the behavior of a specific group of feminists. Lumping the two together like that is like blaming Islam for terrorists.

Feminism, by its very name, is a sexist philosophy. And according to feminists, sexism (mainly patriarchy) is bad. Unless it's feminism.

Feminism -> Feminine -> Female

Definition of -ism: a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy, typically a political ideology or an artistic movement.

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

#667

Post by the8472 »

grovulent wrote: post #580
smrtinsert wrote: post #567

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's not giving Github enough credit. They are clearly thinking very deeply about professionalism in a social coding frame, and I really doubt they will begin addressing every single complaint they receive. If they do, again, there are existing alternatives or the people are free to build their own. The alarmism over this "incident" is mind boggling. That people don't simple let Github conduct their busines…

Github's actions are entirely understandable - I agree. They are just trying to survive as a business. But I don't agree that the resultant alarmism is mind boggling. Folks are becoming increasingly anxious at the ever increasing signalling costs being applied to innocent discourse; applied by people who have little to no institutional authority, and who certainly aren't recognised by folk AS authorities. In response…

Interesting analysis.

> So you see folks saying things like: I'll never use GitHub again if they do this, instead of just remarking to themselves privately - gee, that was a bit harsh of Github, and moving along with their day.

First of all, I assume that most people DO move along. After all you don't hear of those who don't say anything.

Secondly, perhaps those who do feel compelled to speak do so because they are afraid of being part of a silent majority and thus some group A imposing their standards on everyone because that group A is in conflict with group B.

Something like "I don't agree with B's behavior, but I don't agree with A's demands either. I just want to do whatever I do my own way. Please be tolerant, even of things that might offend someone out there".

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

#668

Post by jmsmistral »

JoshTriplett wrote: post #655
aerovistae wrote: post #629

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Slurs are part of discourse. Slurs are considered a problem because they're offensive . Banning them is the first step on the road to banning offensive content. Who arbitrates what is offensive? Sure, we can agree on "The N-Word" , but how about Idiot's Guide to Web Tools?

Can you not tell the difference between "The Idiot's Guide ..." and "The R---rd's Guide ..."? "Idiot" is not a derogatory slur.

Isn't that subjective?

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

#669

Post by samch »

rlidwka wrote: post #624
samch wrote: post #546

There has, for several years, been a campaign[1] promoted by the Special Olympics to end the r-word. I have signed on, and I encourage others to do so as well. I've known a lot of awesome people with intellectual disabilities who have had this label applied to them in the past. It's amazingly hurtful. No matter how you feel about Github's decision, I encourage all of us to consider how the r-word lingers in daily usa…

> I've known a lot of awesome people with intellectual disabilities who have had this label applied to them in the past. It's amazingly hurtful. Applying it to someone is hurtful. Using this word is not. It doesn't matter if you substitute "retard" with "r-word" everywhere, nothing will change. Even if you change the name of the condition, you don't change the condition. If someone wants to be offensive, I'd bet sayi…

I'll just have to admit to a difference of opinion with you on this. I believe there is something inherently wrong with the n-word. I took the time to seek out its etymological roots via the Oxford English Dictionary, and the earliest evidence of its use is entirely negative and demeaning to those being described as such.

You don't need any additional context when the word itself was contrived as a convenient brush to disparage a people. It is, to its very roots, a bad word.

I also think you missed the point of the r-word campaign. They are not trying to get people to say "r-word" instead of the r-word. They want people to be more thoughtful and stop using the term altogether. Most people in polite society have stopped using the n-word, and they didn't substitute the literal phrase "n-word" for it as you suggest might be done. I would like to see these same people do this for the r-word. For example, I've heard a few of my coworkers use the r-word on numerous occasions when I know they would never dare use the n-word. The r-word campaign is simply asking for the same type of consideration.

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

#670

Post by codygman »

jazzyk wrote: post #641
codygman wrote: post #585

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a lot of racists (and reverse-racists, it needs to be said) No such thing as reverse racists, it's all just racism and racists.

Agreed, it is just that my example covered one particular race being discriminated, so I wanted to make it clear. For some reason, people think only non-white people can be discriminated against.

Well anyone can be discriminated against, though some argue only those with institutional power can be racist. I tend to go by these definitions:

http://racismschool.tumblr.com/Racism:Definitions

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