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Neckbeard. I understand the semantic emphasis (and appeal) of 'neckbeard'/'graybeard' in the IT subculture is patently on expertise/oldschoolness, not on gende
by gone35 12y ago
Neckbeard.
I understand the semantic emphasis (and appeal) of 'neckbeard'/'graybeard' in the IT subculture is patently on expertise/oldschoolness, not on gender at all --hell, I've used that noun with gusto myself with barely any thought about the person's gender.
Yet, given the (by no means conclusive, but increasingly socially accepted) evidence that using implicitly-gendered words like that can be, at best, tacitly exclusionary to some degree --like equating 'balls' with courage/determination, or refering to 'man' as humankind--; perhaps one should, at the very least, pause and reflect on whether the amusingness of 'neckbeard' is, in this particular context, worth its use.
- Terr_ 12y agoI think it's a little different when the word (i.e. neckbeard) is pejorative.
- BadassFractal 12y agoLet's not deprive women of their sacrosanct right to a fedora.
- yummyfajitas 12y agoSeriously? I'll put a content warning on my blog next time: "warning, may offend women's delicate sensitivities."
- bellerocky 12y ago> Seriously? I'll put a content warning on my blog next time: "warning, may offend women's delicate sensitivities." Wow, you don't get it at all. You are persisting a stereotype that is exclusionary and your reaction to someone bringing it up politely is to throw it in their face with explicitly sexist sarcasm. Nice job, and you have attached your real name to it all, Chris Stucchio. That alone might be reason to have a different, more professional tone.
- yummyfajitas 12y agoI'm not afraid of the internet bullies. I'm already out there so doxxing doesn't scare me. If you want to make a moral case why I should change the title, do it. If you are persuasive I'll change it. Appeals to inconclusive but "socially accepted" evidence are, however, ridiculous.
- bellerocky 12y agoI don't particular care for the title, however it's the "warning, may offend women's delicate sensitivities." that is incredibly offensive. Maybe you want to go back and time and not write it.
- yummyfajitas 12y agoOffensive to who? I'm mocking gone35 for asserting women are delicate and must be protected from the word neckbeard. Offensive to white knights? I have no problem with that. I stand by the comments I've written here and would not change them if the edit button were still available.
- bellerocky 12y agoYes you're mocking someone who patiently explained an important point to you. If gone35 had talked about anything else in the same courteous tone would it have been OK to mock him? It's very simple, just don't mix professional topics and gender specific terms. It's otherwise a really good blog post and discussion, I'm actually sorry for participating in disrupting it.
- yummyfajitas 12y agoYou feel it is simple, but gone35 gave no argument for it. Neither did you. Just a weak attempt at bullying ("your name is on it chris stucchio"). Make a good argument and identify your axioms (fairly crucial) and I'll give a more intellectual response. Simply tell me to change my style for "socially accepted" but "questionable" reasons and I feel quite justified in ignoring and mocking you.
- CmonDev 12y agoNext step: mixed gender beauty pageants.
- Nursie 12y agoIt's an insult, so it's sort-of exclusionary by default. It refers to those nerdy guys who don't know how to dress themselves, compulsively collect arcane knowledge and probably smell bad. Maybe we ought to come up with a female stereotype to match, or a genderless one. Or maybe this will do just fine - you don't want to be a 'neckbeard' regardless of gender, it's not a good thing.
- rancor 12y agoThere is a term for the female equivalent, namely the elusive 'legbeard'.