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Neal Stephenson's Interface (1994) has never been more relevant. "The corresponding item on the list was highlighted, a bright purple box drawn over it so that

Neal Stephenson's Interface (1994) has never been more relevant. "The corresponding item on the list was highlighted, a bright purple box drawn over it so that the user could see which category he was dealing with at the moment. The hundred categories and names on the list were as follows: IRRELEVANT MOUTH BREATHER 400-POUND TAB DRINKER STONE-FACED URBAN HOMEBOY BURGER-FLIPPING HISTORY MAJOR SQUIRRELLY WINNEBAGO JOCKEY BIBLE-SLINGING PORCH MONKEY ECONOMIC ROADKILL PENT-UP CORPORATE LICKSPITTLE HIGH-METABOLISM WORLD DOMINATOR MIDAMERICAN KNICKKNACK QUEEN ..."

sudojudo 9y ago
Yikes, one of those categories is not like the others. Seeing that you're an Aussie, you might not be aware, but folks in the US will instantly spot a nasty racial slur in your list. Because your personal and professional info is associated with this account, you should probably edit the end off the bible-slinging line. As a favor to you, I'm going to flag the comment.
- jskopek 9y ago
  Wise of you to bring that up, but I feel you might be overplaying the slight. It's a direct quote from a book, so I'd be more angry at the author in this case. Still, good thing to point out.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
  - sudojudo 9y ago
    Thanks. You're correct and I overplayed it. It's clear that he's quoting the author, but racial tensions and identity politics have me running in paranoid mode these days. Forgot that this is Hacker News and not Tumblr; I don't even know where they keep the pitchforks and torches around here.
- inopinatus 9y ago
  Upvoted - not because I agree (I would never knowingly misquote a novel) - but because you're being downvoted and I'll defend your right to point out how horrible it is. And it is horrible. Interface is a satire on the political process, and portrays data-driven political operatives as the most contemptible and cynical manipulators. The casual prejudice of pigeonholing everyone does them (and their real-world counterparts) no favours. And race and class and privilege are distinguishing characteristics of the segments in the Facebook chart.
  - sudojudo 9y ago
    My VPS, in Iceland, had a racist hostname on one of their servers; they had no idea and were quite embarrassed. Just wanted to be sure you weren't in the same boat, because the slur isn't exactly obvious. Apologies for wrongfully flagging your comment. I wanted to hide it, in case you didn't know the context and were signed out for the day. I'm with you 100% on whitewashing and censorship, even though that seems to be exactly what I was doing. Cheers for the friendly response. I'm going to have to check out that book.

sudojudo 9y ago

Yikes, one of those categories is not like the others. Seeing that you're an Aussie, you might not be aware, but folks in the US will instantly spot a nasty racial slur in your list. Because your personal and professional info is associated with this account, you should probably edit the end off the bible-slinging line. As a favor to you, I'm going to flag the comment.

jskopek 9y ago
Wise of you to bring that up, but I feel you might be overplaying the slight. It's a direct quote from a book, so I'd be more angry at the author in this case. Still, good thing to point out.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- sudojudo 9y ago
  Thanks. You're correct and I overplayed it. It's clear that he's quoting the author, but racial tensions and identity politics have me running in paranoid mode these days. Forgot that this is Hacker News and not Tumblr; I don't even know where they keep the pitchforks and torches around here.
inopinatus 9y ago
Upvoted - not because I agree (I would never knowingly misquote a novel) - but because you're being downvoted and I'll defend your right to point out how horrible it is. And it is horrible. Interface is a satire on the political process, and portrays data-driven political operatives as the most contemptible and cynical manipulators. The casual prejudice of pigeonholing everyone does them (and their real-world counterparts) no favours. And race and class and privilege are distinguishing characteristics of the segments in the Facebook chart.
- sudojudo 9y ago
  My VPS, in Iceland, had a racist hostname on one of their servers; they had no idea and were quite embarrassed. Just wanted to be sure you weren't in the same boat, because the slur isn't exactly obvious. Apologies for wrongfully flagging your comment. I wanted to hide it, in case you didn't know the context and were signed out for the day. I'm with you 100% on whitewashing and censorship, even though that seems to be exactly what I was doing. Cheers for the friendly response. I'm going to have to check out that book.