SocDemGenZGaytheist

SocDemGenZGaytheist t1_jbefu0o wrote

Reply to comment by Inter_Mirifica in Consumers respond less positively to new products when their brand names use unconventional spellings of real words, like “Klear” instead of “Clear.” Findings showed that consumers saw these names as indicating the brand was less honest, down-to-earth and wholesome. by geoff199

Yes, the scientific study of how to manipulate people effectively. I call it the dark side of psychology.

4

SocDemGenZGaytheist t1_j641oc9 wrote

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

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.)

29