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Discussion on: The 7 Most Popular DEV Posts from the Past Week

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lkopacz profile image
Lindsey Kopacz

Can we refrain from using language like obesity here?

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Jess Lee

Good call, just updated.

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Lindsey Kopacz

Thank you!

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Andrei Rusu

I agree, it's in poor taste.

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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.