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[python-committers] Fw: CoC violation (was: Retire or reword the "Beautiful is better than ugly" Zen clause)

Ethan Furman ethan at stoneleaf.us
Thu Sep 20 20:25:20 EDT 2018 
On 09/20/2018 05:06 PM, Nathaniel Smith wrote:
> On Thu, Sep 20, 2018 at 3:35 PM, Ethan Furman wrote:

>> And I have to argue against his use of the n-word* as being part of the
>> reason -- he wasn't calling anybody that, he was using the word as an
>> example of a taboo in one culture that is not in others.  Using that as part
>> of the reason to ban him helps me understand the sentiment voiced at the
>> sprints of the feeling that the CoC is a weapon waiting to shoot us down.
>
> But using that word, even with quote marks around it, *is* a serious
> taboo in American culture. And partly this is because "white person
> who finds convoluted excuse to use the n-word" is such a cliche that
> the affected folks have given up with arguing about it and just don't
> want to hear it anywhere, in or out of quotes, with or without an
> excuse attached. There's no reservoir of good-faith left to fall back
> on.
>
> Now sure, that taboo is an American thing, and I wouldn't support
> automatically banning someone who used it in genuine ignorance, was
> repentant when they realized what they'd done, etc. Context absolutely
> matters. But in context here it's clear that Jacco knew perfectly well
> that he was violating a taboo, and I can't read his usage as anything
> but an intentional provocation. Especially when combined with all the
> other things in his email.

You make good points.  -Ideas is not, after all, a sociology course, and he did already know that.

I withdraw my objection.

--
~Ethan~
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