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Coelacanth3 t1_j63cvyq wrote

Reply to comment by WinoWithAKnife in AP Stylebook includes 'The French' in list of 'general and often dehumanizing 'the' labels. by wewhomustnotbenamed

It kind of makes sense tbh, "the" descriptors for nationalities aren't super offensive or anything but they do come across as slightly disrespectul and there are better ways of phrasing it, same for "the poor".

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OutOfStamina t1_j641u58 wrote

I find it an indicator of someone's other ideas. if they say "republicans" but also say "the democrats", they really give away their hand on many positions without even knowing it. Maybe it's a dogwhistle and I'm supposed to pick up on that... but I think most don't know they do it, just part of their programming.

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chucklesbro t1_j65hgu7 wrote

Not programming, useful. What should I say when I want to make a statement about all french people collectively? For example, The French pay higher income taxes than The Germans (I have no idea if this is true). That is not offensive. And, it does not mean precisely the same thing as saying French tax rates are higher than German tax rates.

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TenzenEnna t1_j661ula wrote

"France has a higher income tax than Germany"

Doesn't seem that hard IMO.

You could say "Your average French citizen will pay a higher income tax than their German counterpart" if you wanted to fancy it up.

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Also same claim as above, No idea if that's true, just showing sentences.

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OutOfStamina t1_j6e18qe wrote

>What should I say when I want to make a statement about all french people collectively?

In your question you literally just did it without saying the more dehumanizing "the French". So... "French people" by your own example. "All french people"... "Some french people"... just a few ways to not use "the".

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omni42 t1_j65ij2i wrote

It's a pretty solid sign they don't see that group as people, they see them as a block of other. It's not that it's rude, but what follows it probably will be.

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