5 ms·

Yep.. Read the comments on stories like this http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/08/09/target-remove-gender-based-labeling/31375863/ http://www.

Yep.. Read the comments on stories like this http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/08/09/target-remove-gender-based-labeling/31375863/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/08/09/tar... Target tries to make one step in the right direction (like making sure a chemistry set is not labeled as a BOYS chemistry set) and people respond with: "You liberal POS idiots are ruining this Country. Just because you morons don't want to think there are boys and girls, doesn't mean the rest of us with a brain have to think in your warped ways." "Complete stupidity. I want my girls and boys to identify with their gender." "This is stupid! So you think my grandson's wants to sleep on a frozen bed set made for girls and my granddaughters wants to sleep on spiderman bed sets. I don't think so. You better leave well enough along before you lose your business." "This is just stupid. Kids are being taught not be them selves such as a true boy or a true girl. Men now a days are not men, they are girly men. A lot of women are not women they are trying so hard to fit into a mans world. Leave kids to b kids please. Pinks and blues do not hurt any one!"

hueving 11y ago
A horrifying reminder of the capability for critical thought of the general population! This is to be expected though. Removing gender associations is going to be seen as an attack on existing peoples' upbringings. Anything that falls into that category is going to be a painful fight.
- zamalek 11y ago
  There's an effect I forget the name of. Basically, if you give someone something and then some time later take it away they experience anger. When you give rights to one group, you have to remove them from another (important: even if the second group had rights that were not rightfully theirs). Men previously and incorrectly had exclusive access to jobs (and votes, and so forth). By giving women fair chance to those rights, you have to subtract the unjust portion of men's rights. I don't know why some (most? unlikely) of us can accept the truth, that those rights were never only ours, but as for the rest they experience anger. Just another way that equality is a hard fight: we're fighting a documented psychological effect.
  - rewqfdsa 11y ago
    This article isn't talking about taking away "exclusive access to jobs" from men. It's hinting at separating geek culture from software development. Let's be honest: the two interests correlate well. You're talking about stripping many practitioners of software development from their culture. Why is that just?
    - zamalek 11y ago
      > You're talking about stripping many practitioners of software development from their culture. Where did you get that from? I was merely attempting a theory (not excusing) on why these people act they do toward equality.
    - rayiner 11y ago
      > You're talking about stripping many practitioners of software development from their culture. Why is that just? Why is it unjust? Why do you have to bring your personal interests and preferences into the workplace? Why not make a neutral workplace where different kinds of people can integrate and feel comfortable?
      - rewqfdsa 11y ago
        You're advocating for sterile, culture-less workplaces. You're free to do that, and companies are free to implement your proposed policies. Personally, I wouldn't work for a company that prohibited my expressing nerd culture.
        rayiner 11y ago
        Yes, I am. I think work places should be neutral places where the focus is on work. I'm a professional--I don't need to bond with my teammates over unrelated bullshit in order to work effectively with them.
        rewqfdsa 11y ago
        I think sharing culture can create an esprit de corps, improving morale and group cohesion, especially in times of crisis.
ElComradio 11y ago
It's important to realize that this pushback you are seeing is not because people think girls should not play with chemistry sets. It's because, in point of fact, there _is_ a cultural force out there that exists, that insists that boys and girls are blank slates and if not for antiquated belief systems, all jobs or interests would be split 50/50 across genders. They are pushing back against the pressure to conform to this new dogma, not that they would deny any particular girl access to a "boy's things".

hueving 11y ago

A horrifying reminder of the capability for critical thought of the general population! This is to be expected though. Removing gender associations is going to be seen as an attack on existing peoples' upbringings. Anything that falls into that category is going to be a painful fight.

zamalek 11y ago
There's an effect I forget the name of. Basically, if you give someone something and then some time later take it away they experience anger. When you give rights to one group, you have to remove them from another (important: even if the second group had rights that were not rightfully theirs). Men previously and incorrectly had exclusive access to jobs (and votes, and so forth). By giving women fair chance to those rights, you have to subtract the unjust portion of men's rights. I don't know why some (most? unlikely) of us can accept the truth, that those rights were never only ours, but as for the rest they experience anger. Just another way that equality is a hard fight: we're fighting a documented psychological effect.
- rewqfdsa 11y ago
  This article isn't talking about taking away "exclusive access to jobs" from men. It's hinting at separating geek culture from software development. Let's be honest: the two interests correlate well. You're talking about stripping many practitioners of software development from their culture. Why is that just?
  - zamalek 11y ago
    > You're talking about stripping many practitioners of software development from their culture. Where did you get that from? I was merely attempting a theory (not excusing) on why these people act they do toward equality.
  - rayiner 11y ago
    > You're talking about stripping many practitioners of software development from their culture. Why is that just? Why is it unjust? Why do you have to bring your personal interests and preferences into the workplace? Why not make a neutral workplace where different kinds of people can integrate and feel comfortable?
    - rewqfdsa 11y ago
      You're advocating for sterile, culture-less workplaces. You're free to do that, and companies are free to implement your proposed policies. Personally, I wouldn't work for a company that prohibited my expressing nerd culture.
      - rayiner 11y ago
        Yes, I am. I think work places should be neutral places where the focus is on work. I'm a professional--I don't need to bond with my teammates over unrelated bullshit in order to work effectively with them.
        rewqfdsa 11y ago
        I think sharing culture can create an esprit de corps, improving morale and group cohesion, especially in times of crisis.

ElComradio 11y ago

It's important to realize that this pushback you are seeing is not because people think girls should not play with chemistry sets. It's because, in point of fact, there _is_ a cultural force out there that exists, that insists that boys and girls are blank slates and if not for antiquated belief systems, all jobs or interests would be split 50/50 across genders. They are pushing back against the pressure to conform to this new dogma, not that they would deny any particular girl access to a "boy's things".