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CDC gets list of forbidden words

(www.washingtonpost.com)
382 points js2 | 3 comments | | HN request time: 0.771s | source
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somebodynew ◴[] No.15937313[source]
I probably need to preface this comment by making it clear that I'm against banning words and not a fan of Trump.

Banning "fetus" and "transgender" is completely indefensible as they're fairly neutral words with no obvious replacement. But for the rest, imagine that rather than a ban this was a style guide recommending against certain words. The common theme in the rest of them is that they don't convey much useful information but have a strong emotional charge.

You don't need to say something is evidence-based, just show the evidence. Coming right out and saying your position is evidence-based just sounds like a way to shut down any objections, even reasoned discussion, by casting the other side as being against science, evidence, or facts in general. This is similar for science-based, vulnerable, and diversity. If you're seen as being "anti-diversity" your argument doesn't matter because you're a misogynistic racist xenophobe.

Entitlements is charged term because you've cemented your position on social welfare pretty clearly just by referring to them as entitlements. It's not quite as bad as Derry/Londonderry , but it's certainly not neutral.

I don't think any of these words should be banned, but I do think it would be reasonable for government agencies to use neutral language and fully explain their thoughts rather than using emotionally charged buzzwords.

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whathaschanged[dead post] ◴[] No.15937434[source]
How is transgender in any way related to science? Furthering the Obama agenda of promoting mental illness is not in the best interest of society. Helping the mentally ill get the help they deserve is. A banana can declare it is an apple all it wants, but it is still a banana.
gizmo686 ◴[] No.15937490[source]
Suppose I were to grant that transgenderism is a mental illness. Why would we ban the word? The CDC's job is to deal with dissease, so this would put transgenderism squarely in the purview of what they should be talking about.

The reason to ban them from using the word is because you do not like what they say when they do talk about it.

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1. ams6110 ◴[] No.15937591[source]
> If you actually cared about the person, you don't throw around words like "mental illness." You do that because you hate.

I think you're too absolute there. Certainly many people can talk about mental illness and the mentally ill without hateful intent.

2. labster ◴[] No.15937629[source]
This feels like a personal attack against someone who agrees with you.
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3. djsumdog ◴[] No.15937744[source]
It was aimed at the previous comment, but it got flagged for deletion before I could reply.