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The 7 Most Popular DEV Posts from the Past Week

Jess Lee on March 18, 2019

Every Monday we round up the previous week's top posts based on traffic, engagement, and a hint of editorial curation. The typical week starts on M...
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lkopacz profile image
Lindsey Kopacz

Can we refrain from using language like obesity here?

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andreirusu_ profile image
Andrei Rusu

I agree, it's in poor taste.

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jess profile image
Jess Lee

Good call, just updated.

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lkopacz profile image
Lindsey Kopacz

Thank you!

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anortef profile image
Adrián Norte

In all honesty, as a European whos English is not his first language, why?

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lkopacz profile image
Lindsey Kopacz • Edited

Sure.

So while obesity and overweight are technical terms, there is a lot of evidence showing there's discrimination against fat people. Even at their doctor's office (see this: statnews.com/2017/08/15/cancer-dia...)

People discriminate against them all the time when a lot of fatness is due to genetics and/or toxic diet culture that ruins metabolisms. We shouldn't be excluding obese people from our community by implying that obese = bad.

Hope this helps.

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Emma Bostian ✨

We recognize non-native English speakers may not understand the negative implications of choosing specific words. She asked nicely, and it was a teaching moment. Just because someone isn't a non-native speaker doesn't mean they can't (and shouldn't) learn which words are derogatory.

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sergio profile image
Comment marked as low quality/non-constructive by the community. View Code of Conduct
deleteme deleteme • Edited

Oh please, can we stop trying to police things.

Edit:

Comment marked as low quality/non-constructive by the community View code of conduct

Alright this is my exit from this website. It's a shame another community is infected with this kind of stuff. To the website owners think long and hard what kind of community you want to foster with this insanity. Later.

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emmabostian profile image
Emma Bostian ✨

We're creating an inclusive and safe environment at Dev. That's what sets us apart. If you don't enjoy that, there are a multitude of other platforms for you to frequent.

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lkopacz profile image
Lindsey Kopacz

How is asking people to be inclusive policing things?

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anortef profile image
Adrián Norte

I totally understand yours and Emma's point. And also think that Sergio is having a bad attitude about it but as a non-native English speaker from a country where calling obese to someone, like myself and my 170kg of awesomeness :), who suffer obesity is not considered a bad thing in itself, of course minding the context, as long as is not used to ridicule or attack that person.
When we interact with people from the states that try, with good intention and no lack of reason, to create a more inclusive and safe space for everyone sometimes (and this I talked with others) feel attacked and even, to a certain point, oppressed just because of not having neither the language skills of a native speaker neither the social context you people have at the states.

For example, just 3 days ago I learned that "they" is the pronoun of choice that should be used when you don't know the preferred one of your interlocutor, but that presents a series of problems for me:

  • I don't know when or how to use it in a socially acceptable manner.
  • How exactly differentiate it based on context from the traditional they.

What I want to say is that everyone should try to get into each other's skins (metaphorically please) before judging the reason behind some words.

P.S: Just to get an idea of the situation for people outside the states, most of my European friends are advising me against trying to understand this and seek explanations because they think it only attracts criticism from people from the states if you don't silently follow guidelines.

 
lkopacz profile image
Lindsey Kopacz

This language is not supported in the CoC. Maybe you should read that before you critique me for calling out exclusive language.

Fatphobia exists. Now please stop making assumptions about me. Thanks.

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lkopacz profile image
Lindsey Kopacz

I don't think so.

 
emmabostian profile image
Emma Bostian ✨

Have you ever seen obesity used in a positive connotation? I doubt it. I won't waste my energy arguing with someone who isn't trying to take this as a learning or growth opportunity. Does it offend me personally? No. Could it offend others? Yes. That's what's important.

Instead of being defensive, maybe try and see it from someone else's point of view.

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Emma Bostian ✨

And I don't feel sorry to be me, because I am fostering an inclusive environment instead of berating someone for speaking out against derogatory diction.

 
lkopacz profile image
Lindsey Kopacz

Inspired by my friend Ali:

thank u, next.

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emmabostian profile image
Emma Bostian ✨

Lindsey is trying to promote an inclusive and safe environment by removing derogatory comments. The word was removed, which was the ideal outcome. We understand that non-native English speakers may not recognize the negative implications of the word "obesity", and appreciate cooperation in editing the choice of words.

That being said, the Dev Community should be a place void of criticism, shaming, hateful speech, etc. This fell, although it may have been unintentional, underneath that umbrella. Thus, I applaud Lindsey for speaking up.

There is no need for you to be pejorative.

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Jess Lee

Ah yeah, I use the "they" pronoun for everyone unless I specifically know what their pronoun preferences are!