[BLU/Officers] political correctness flame war on Discuss makes BLU and Linux look bad

[Bill Ricker]

To BLU Officers -

I am concerned ...

1. We should have intervened to request a Subject Change (so as to
disentangle the tech topic with politico-linguistic discussion)

2. We should have intervened to request/assure civility.

3. Ned and Gordon are right, Jim-Crow era language like "Cotton Pickin'"
has no place in polite society in this century, and we don't get a
democratic vote on whether someone is or should be offended.
Normally i wouldn't link the thieves at About.com but they have perfect
reference
http://racerelations.about.com/od/diversitymatters/a/Five-Terms-You-Might-Not-Know-Are-Considered-Racist.htm
(not finding where they stole it quickly)
Urban Dict (not known for Political Correctness!) agrees:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cotton+Pickin&defid=6916831

4. Decrying 'Political Correctness' (or 'language lawyers') makes our
mailing list and by implication our meetings a less-safe space for anyone
not protected by White-CIS-Het-Male conformity.

5. As always, the ironically named MadDog is the voice of reason.

6. We've lost at least two valued list members and unknown how many others
will be repelled by this incivility and un-welcoming-ness.

7. Please see http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Encourage-Women-Linux-HOWTO/
  especially but hardly exclusively page 4 "But I don't do that!"
     (all of which applies equally to making
underrepresented/under-empowered ​ethnic/race groupings feel safe and
welcome too.)


-- 
Bill Ricker
bill.n1vux at gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/n1vux
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