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This seems like a really pointlessly long rant that boils down to a feature request: Change the "other" category to "other/not-disclosed". Also do these women

by jordanb 15y ago

This seems like a really pointlessly long rant that boils down to a feature request: Change the "other" category to "other/not-disclosed". Also do these women who don't want to disclose their gender really need Randall Munroe to file the bug report for them?

mooism2 15y ago
The feature request is to add the ability to hide your gender, not to institutionalise co-opting of "other" as "not disclosed". I bet the post was read by a lot more people because it was written by Randall Munroe.
edanm 15y ago
"Also do these women who don't want to disclose their gender really need Randall Munroe to file the bug report for them?" That's disingenuous. He's simply acting as a good "beta tester" by filing a report on what he sees as a bug. I don't think he's setting himself up as "representing women", just someone who noticed a problem and has the ability to act on it (which is true of very few people in this case; how many Google+ users have used the feedback option?)
- archgoon 15y ago
  >which is true of very few people in this case; how many Google+ users have used the feedback option?) I have, but for more mundane UI issues. Though I suspect that Mr. Munroe has considerable amplification power of his opinions. I have multiple reshares of that post at this point.
T-R 15y ago
As with other minority issues, I'd imagine he's speaking out on it because he feels that: - The population he speaks for is a minority: they aren't yet well represented within the group - Those who are in the group may feel uncomfortable speaking out about it, particularly because they're a minority - The issue is important enough to that minority that it may lead them to leave or not join (and so continue to be underrepresented), and the group and the minority are important enough to him that he thinks it's worth addressing. The "long rant" serves to bring attention to the significance of the issue, as does the fact that someone so well known is taking the time to make it.
roundsquare 15y ago
"Also do these women who don't want to disclose their gender really need Randall Munroe to file the bug report for them?" He's someone who gets listened to.

by jordanb 15y ago

mooism2 15y ago

The feature request is to add the ability to hide your gender, not to institutionalise co-opting of "other" as "not disclosed". I bet the post was read by a lot more people because it was written by Randall Munroe.

edanm 15y ago

"Also do these women who don't want to disclose their gender really need Randall Munroe to file the bug report for them?" That's disingenuous. He's simply acting as a good "beta tester" by filing a report on what he sees as a bug. I don't think he's setting himself up as "representing women", just someone who noticed a problem and has the ability to act on it (which is true of very few people in this case; how many Google+ users have used the feedback option?)

archgoon 15y ago
>which is true of very few people in this case; how many Google+ users have used the feedback option?) I have, but for more mundane UI issues. Though I suspect that Mr. Munroe has considerable amplification power of his opinions. I have multiple reshares of that post at this point.

T-R 15y ago

As with other minority issues, I'd imagine he's speaking out on it because he feels that: - The population he speaks for is a minority: they aren't yet well represented within the group - Those who are in the group may feel uncomfortable speaking out about it, particularly because they're a minority - The issue is important enough to that minority that it may lead them to leave or not join (and so continue to be underrepresented), and the group and the minority are important enough to him that he thinks it's worth addressing. The "long rant" serves to bring attention to the significance of the issue, as does the fact that someone so well known is taking the time to make it.

roundsquare 15y ago

"Also do these women who don't want to disclose their gender really need Randall Munroe to file the bug report for them?" He's someone who gets listened to.