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The Stallman Report

(stallman-report.org)
197 points pkilgore | 1 comments | 14 Oct 24 14:19 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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joshuajill ◴[15 Oct 24 13:05 UTC] No.41848154[source]▶
GNU kind communication guidelines the report purports to be transphobic:

"Please think about how to treat other participants with respect, especially when you disagree with them. For instance, call them by the names they use, and refer to them using words whose meanings (as you understand them) cover those participants' stated gender identities. Please also show tolerance and respect for people who do that using different words from the words you use."

Also strongly disagree with stopping support FSF, in particular from an anonymous group.

Recommendations are quite of, despite the generally accurate and reasonable report.

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jcranmer ◴[15 Oct 24 16:05 UTC] No.41849992[source]▶
> refer to them using words whose meanings (as you understand them) cover those participants' stated gender identities

If I were trans, that portion of the guideline would be enough to nope me out of participating in GNU projects. The "as you understand them" parenthetical gives cover for transphobes to intentionally misgender trans people, since they can hide behind saying that they feel it's only appropriate to use these terms for the appropriate biological sex.

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1. arp242 ◴[15 Oct 24 21:30 UTC] No.41853322[source]▶
Presumably this refers to his peculiar set of neologisms (“per” and “pers”) as a gender-neutral pronouns.[1]

Stallman is an extremely stubborn language hyper-pedantic with some fairly unconventional views and usages on any issue, not just this one. And he has 20 years of documented support for trans people. So with that context in mind, I think it makes sense to take it in good faith.

To say I find his position on this peculiar would be an understatement. But I find that on many of Stallman's positions on similar topics wrt. language. Either way, I'm reasonably confident it's not intended as a cover for transphobic bullying or the like, even though it may appear like that at a glance.

[1]: https://stallman.org/articles/genderless-pronouns.html