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I don't like his post because he needlessly implies Google engineers are malicious when it's obviously not the case. >staff are either incompetent, or racist.

by Tohhou 13y ago

I don't like his post because he needlessly implies Google engineers are malicious when it's obviously not the case. >staff are either incompetent, or racist. I hope for incompetence. Either is bad, but racism is much worse than incompetence. >protected characteristic http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/4 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/4 http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/new-equality-act-guidance/protected-characteristics-definitions/ http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/new-e... Does that include names?

aspidistra 13y ago
You're right: it is wrong to suggest that Google is deliberately malicious here. But again, you can have the best intentions in the world and still be discriminatory. I think it's important to separate the two terms: malicious suggests a motive, while discrimination is about consequences. > Does that include names? IANAL, but the specific discrimination against Native American or First Nation names could fall under race. Race in terms of the Equality Act is more than just skin colour: it includes nationality, or ethnic origin. Or even belief, which "need not include faith or worship of a god or gods, but must affect how a person lives their life or perceives the world", according to this page from the EHRC: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/further-and-higher-education-providers-guidance/protected-characteristics/ http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/furth... Our names do "affect how we live our lives": we have to use them every day. They are a way of defining who we are. I don't think it's a stretch either to say that many cultures place a great deal of emphasis and tradition on names. I'm no anthropologist, but variations on naming ceremonies exist throughout the world -- christenings, for example. Also see the other six points under belief on the EHRC page above. They arguably protect the right of Native Americans to use their own names, and not be denied service because of them.

by Tohhou 13y ago

aspidistra 13y ago

You're right: it is wrong to suggest that Google is deliberately malicious here. But again, you can have the best intentions in the world and still be discriminatory. I think it's important to separate the two terms: malicious suggests a motive, while discrimination is about consequences. > Does that include names? IANAL, but the specific discrimination against Native American or First Nation names could fall under race. Race in terms of the Equality Act is more than just skin colour: it includes nationality, or ethnic origin. Or even belief, which "need not include faith or worship of a god or gods, but must affect how a person lives their life or perceives the world", according to this page from the EHRC: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/further-and-higher-education-providers-guidance/protected-characteristics/ http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/furth... Our names do "affect how we live our lives": we have to use them every day. They are a way of defining who we are. I don't think it's a stretch either to say that many cultures place a great deal of emphasis and tradition on names. I'm no anthropologist, but variations on naming ceremonies exist throughout the world -- christenings, for example. Also see the other six points under belief on the EHRC page above. They arguably protect the right of Native Americans to use their own names, and not be denied service because of them.