3 ms·

Most people are too fucking stupid to concern themselves with such things as gender equality. I don't find it offensive, but it is sexist. It just shows a lack

Most people are too fucking stupid to concern themselves with such things as gender equality. I don't find it offensive, but it is sexist. It just shows a lack of forethought on your part and a lack of understanding of gender norms/privilege/etc. Subtlety assigning words like that is sexist. And dicking around does have gendered connotations, if you don't realize that then see statement one.

angersock 15y ago
Well, now that we've got your side of it, somebody else chiming in: http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=2122 http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=2122 and http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=3567 http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=3567 :)
- libcee 15y ago
  this is at once the best thing i've ever read by esr, and also a perfect explanation of how open source's image will always remain on top of free software's. the second part didn't occur to me until i read through it again, but esr himself has been putting rms and (much less appropriately) anyone that sees value in his perspective in an anti-theistic kafkatrap, an especially damning and potent snare considering that both esr and rms are atheists. that kind of diabolical abuse has soured me on esr forever, but i admire how brilliantly he explains it.
kristopolous 15y ago
the phrase "dick around" is actually from "dicker around" which is a 19th c. term. "Dicker" is to "Engage in petty argument or bargaining" and "Treat something casually or irresponsibly; toy with something". So when someone is "dick[er]ing around" they are treating serious matters lightly or doing things in an unnecessarily protracted way; which is precisely how we use it. The word "dick" however, which I would gather, people would envision it meaning "penis" here, simply doesn't work. We don't use "dick" as a verb, yet alone a progressive verb. "To dick" or "to be dicking" a person, although fairly clear in its sexual connotation, is certainly not in use, "dicking (with) a person" however, makes perfect sense, because it's from that ye olden term "dicker" again. So "dicking around" has nothing to do with the slang term for penis or the disused colloquial meaning of a rookie detective, or it being an everyman; all wrong. Sorry to bust your bubble.

angersock 15y ago

Well, now that we've got your side of it, somebody else chiming in: http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=2122 http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=2122 and http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=3567 http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=3567 :)

libcee 15y ago
this is at once the best thing i've ever read by esr, and also a perfect explanation of how open source's image will always remain on top of free software's. the second part didn't occur to me until i read through it again, but esr himself has been putting rms and (much less appropriately) anyone that sees value in his perspective in an anti-theistic kafkatrap, an especially damning and potent snare considering that both esr and rms are atheists. that kind of diabolical abuse has soured me on esr forever, but i admire how brilliantly he explains it.

kristopolous 15y ago

the phrase "dick around" is actually from "dicker around" which is a 19th c. term. "Dicker" is to "Engage in petty argument or bargaining" and "Treat something casually or irresponsibly; toy with something". So when someone is "dick[er]ing around" they are treating serious matters lightly or doing things in an unnecessarily protracted way; which is precisely how we use it. The word "dick" however, which I would gather, people would envision it meaning "penis" here, simply doesn't work. We don't use "dick" as a verb, yet alone a progressive verb. "To dick" or "to be dicking" a person, although fairly clear in its sexual connotation, is certainly not in use, "dicking (with) a person" however, makes perfect sense, because it's from that ye olden term "dicker" again. So "dicking around" has nothing to do with the slang term for penis or the disused colloquial meaning of a rookie detective, or it being an everyman; all wrong. Sorry to bust your bubble.