‘American’ and ‘you guys’ among words considered harmful by Stanford group

[ThatRobGuy]

‘American’ and ‘you guys’ among words considered harmful by Stanford group

PALO ALTO, Calif. (KRON) — Stanford University’s IT department introduced its Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative (EHLI) in May, aiming to recognize and address words that could …

www.kron4.com

PALO ALTO, Calif. (KRON) — Stanford University’s IT department introduced its Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative (EHLI) in May, aiming to recognize and address words that could be considered harmful. On Monday, the EHLI published a long list of words that it says fall under this category.

The list contains more than 100 different words and phrases that are deemed harmful, including an explanation for why they are harmful and a word or phrase to use in lieu of the harmful term. Among the terms on the list were “American” and “you guys.”

“American” was deemed to be “imprecise language,” and the EHLI said “U.S. citizen” is preferred. “This term (American) often refers to people from the United States only, thereby insinuating that the US is the most important country in the Americas (which is actually made up of 42
countries),” Stanford EHLI said.


Is this perhaps an instance of a "self own" on behalf of the people pushing for it? A situation where someone takes their own idea (that may have been noble/good 'in theory'), and takes it to such an comical extreme that it basically becomes an manifestation of the reductio ad absurdum arguments people on the other side would've made about 3-4 years ago... A "proving the other side's slippery slope argument for them" of sorts?

 

[Goonie]

‘American’ and ‘you guys’ among words considered harmful by Stanford group

PALO ALTO, Calif. (KRON) — Stanford University’s IT department introduced its Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative (EHLI) in May, aiming to recognize and address words that could …

www.kron4.com

PALO ALTO, Calif. (KRON) — Stanford University’s IT department introduced its Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative (EHLI) in May, aiming to recognize and address words that could be considered harmful. On Monday, the EHLI published a long list of words that it says fall under this category.

The list contains more than 100 different words and phrases that are deemed harmful, including an explanation for why they are harmful and a word or phrase to use in lieu of the harmful term. Among the terms on the list were “American” and “you guys.”

“American” was deemed to be “imprecise language,” and the EHLI said “U.S. citizen” is preferred. “This term (American) often refers to people from the United States only, thereby insinuating that the US is the most important country in the Americas (which is actually made up of 42
countries),” Stanford EHLI said.


Is this perhaps an instance of a "self own" on behalf of the people pushing for it? A situation where someone takes their own idea (that may have been noble/good 'in theory'), and takes it to such an comical extreme that it basically becomes an manifestation of the reductio ad absurdum arguments people on the other side would've made about 3-4 years ago... A "proving the other side's slippery slope argument for them" of sorts?

'you guys' is definitely a term that can easily be taken the wrong way.

 

[Desk trauma]

'you guys' is definitely a term that can easily be taken the wrong way.

How?

 

[Desk trauma]

 

[Tinker Grey]

I like Usofan for a citizen of the US, but it hasn't caught on. (Think, U-S-of-A-n, like Utahn.)

 

[Goonie]

How?

The assumption that the whole group are men, for one.

 

[Desk trauma]

The assumption that the whole group are men, for one.

In some parts of the US it's a generic reference to a group without intended gender but I guess those looking for offence can find it anywhere.

 

[Desk trauma]

I like Usofan for a citizen of the US, but it hasn't caught on. (Think, U-S-of-A-n, like Utahn.)

'Murican!

 

[Nithavela]

I think you can still say "american" when you mean a US Citizen, you just have to shoot a firearm when you do.

 

[Desk trauma]

I think you can still say "american" when you mean a US Citizen, you just have to shoot a firearm when you do.

 

[Michie]

Robert Downey in black face.

 

[Desk trauma]

Robert Downey in black face.

 

[Michie]

View attachment 325578

I know.

 

[seeking.IAM]

I would be happy if "you guys" goes away. It grates on me when I'm out to dinner with my wife and the wait staff says, "Are you guys ready to order?"

What guys?

 

[rjs330]

This just shows the sillyness of the whole thing. "You guys" is offensive?

Just shows how weak we have become. Taking offense at something when it is not meant to be offensive.

I mean it can be used and meant as offensive. But most of the time it's not.

It's totally weak not to take context in to account.

Same goes for American. Totally ridiculous.

 

[Nithavela]

This just shows the sillyness of the whole thing. "You guys" is offensive?

Just shows how weak we have become. Taking offense at something when it is not meant to be offensive.

I mean it can be used and meant as offensive. But most of the time it's not.

It's totally weak not to take context in to account.

Same goes for American. Totally ridiculous.

Who said anything about "offensive"?

 

[Tuur]

I think you can still say "american" when you mean a US Citizen, you just have to shoot a firearm when you do.

Not necessary when you say "I'm an American," then put your hand on your side arm and say "Have a problem with that?"

 

[Tuur]

I like Usofan for a citizen of the US, but it hasn't caught on. (Think, U-S-of-A-n, like Utahn.)

There's always "Yankee," but it hasn't caught on in the Southern US.

 

[Rajni]

"Harmful" in what way?

 

[Margaret3110]

I think this is silly.

Edit: After reading more about this, I'm going to change my assessment of the list to insane.