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SocDemGenZGaytheist t1_j641oc9 wrote

Here's what AP means:

  • instead of "the transgenders," it's probably better to say "transgender people."
  • instead of "the blacks," it's probably better to say "Black people."
  • instead of "the Jews," it's probably better to say "Jewish people."
  • instead of "the LGBTQ," it's probably better to say "LGBTQ people."
  • instead of "the schizophrenics," it's probably better to say "schizophrenic people."
  • instead of "the homeless," it's probably better to say "homeless people."
  • and yes, instead of "the French," it may be better to say "French people."

Until yesterday I had no idea this was any kind of official AP standard. I just noticed that bigoted people talking about groups they hate often avoid calling those groups’ members "people."

Plus, using the plural "people" helps us avoid one of the most common thinking errors in social/political discourse: treating a group like they are all one singular allied organization with the same goals and desires when, in reality, the group has a diverse range of disagreeing opinions and different experiences.

(I feel like it must mean something that transphobes keep using weird phrases like "transgenders" and "transgenderism" and "the transgenders" to refer to trans people.)

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techitaway t1_j66407w wrote

I know they used "the French" and everyone's having fun with it. But if I had a nickel for everytime I've heard "the Mexicans/the Chinese..." Followed by something racist as fuck...

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SoySauceSyringe t1_j67lsc1 wrote

Made a similar comment before, but yeah. Let’s say you have two uncles, and one refers to Jewish people while the other talks about the Jews. Do you think one of them is maybe a little more likely than the other to say something antisemitic?

You already knew the answer, let’s not pretend this is coming outta nowhere.

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HearthstoneOnly t1_j669xn3 wrote

Are people going to be less racist when they start their sentences with "The Chinese people?" This tone-policing is needless.

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idler_JP t1_j66qkog wrote

Yes, by convincing the racists to continuously come up with more and more euphemisms and dog whistles, they will gradually be convinced WRT the superiority of liberal thinking, and therefore cease to be racist.

Oh no, wait, it's just a counterproductive excuse for circlejerk virtue signalling on the left that often actually insultingly infantilises the oppressed. Sorry, the oppressed people.

But hey, we all looove a bit of moral high ground ...when it doesn't cost any money

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Kind_Bullfrog_4073 t1_j65yevl wrote

So AP just wants people to spend more time talking

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HearthstoneOnly t1_j669uns wrote

This is such a weird cultural issue to take a side on. All this does is create needless hostility as folks over-assume each other.

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