4 ms·

I am skeptical that the "React community" is a hotbed of white supremacy. It seems wildly inappropriate to have a talk titled "White supremacy Capitalist Patri

I am skeptical that the "React community" is a hotbed of white supremacy. It seems wildly inappropriate to have a talk titled "White supremacy Capitalist Patriarchy" at a software conference. Is there a way to criticize that without being called a white supremacist? edit - here's the talk that led to this controversy (I got the title wrong): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQq_gZiZ-jg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQq_gZiZ-jg You be the judge. My understanding is that implicit bias tests are controversial among experts [0]. I also think that the talk is extraordinarily inappropriate (given the venue) and I'm not surprised that there was backlash. As always, the line between "criticism" and "harassment" is blurry. But, again, is there a way to criticize that talk without being labeled a harasser or being accused of "minimizing white supremacy"? [0] https://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/07-08/psychometric https://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/07-08/psychometric

hyperdunc 7y ago
There's little point in trying to avoid being called such things. The term has been redefined to be more encompassing and is used as a political weapon by those with an agenda.
matwood 7y ago
> But, again, is there a way to criticize that talk without being labeled a harasser or being accused of "minimizing white supremacy"? The technique of labeling your opponent or ascribing some extreme position to your opponent is as old as debating. What Twitter has done is make the technique more effective. Disagree with how antifa does things? You must be a nazi. Dislike Trump? You must be a USA hating communist. But you can also see this happen in the small scale. Disagree with a business partner about a business idea? You must just want to close down the business. It's all ridiculous posturing, and unfortunately seems to be used much more today. I also think it provides a smokescreen for when someone really is a nazi or racist.

hyperdunc 7y ago

There's little point in trying to avoid being called such things. The term has been redefined to be more encompassing and is used as a political weapon by those with an agenda.

matwood 7y ago

> But, again, is there a way to criticize that talk without being labeled a harasser or being accused of "minimizing white supremacy"? The technique of labeling your opponent or ascribing some extreme position to your opponent is as old as debating. What Twitter has done is make the technique more effective. Disagree with how antifa does things? You must be a nazi. Dislike Trump? You must be a USA hating communist. But you can also see this happen in the small scale. Disagree with a business partner about a business idea? You must just want to close down the business. It's all ridiculous posturing, and unfortunately seems to be used much more today. I also think it provides a smokescreen for when someone really is a nazi or racist.