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I don't think we can teach people to do or not do a dozen different things at once. Caring fatigue kicks in, people nitpick the lesser issues, etc. It would be

I don't think we can teach people to do or not do a dozen different things at once. Caring fatigue kicks in, people nitpick the lesser issues, etc. It would be nice if people could agree to end one specific behavior at a time. Edit: Before more people react negatively... Have you tried explaining microagressions to someone who has never exprienced any before? It is not easy. Edit 2: Focused campaigns such as Beyonce and co against the word 'bossy'. Edit 3: want to see nitpicking in action? Read the other comments.

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theOnliest 12y ago
I'm not sure that anyone has to agree to work on one at a time. If each person worked on one at a time, that would be great! Nobody is going to get mad at someone for consciously trying to use "women" instead of "girls" just because we all agreed it's "No default male avatar" month.
proksoup 12y ago
I find enumerating the multiple types of micro-aggressions helps the micro-aggressor understand the larger picture of how their many different acts of micro-aggression add up to a hostile atmosphere. Doing so also helps me appear hostile to them, which distracts/sidelines the dialogue a bit.
kaitai 12y ago
That would be really interesting: if everyone focused on one behavior for a month, then tried another one for a month -- like zenhabits' monthly habit-formation themes but for tech citizenship. What a cool idea! (Also, I agree with your edits & comment re: caring fatigue.)
brighteyes 12y ago
> Have you tried explaining microagressions to someone who has never exprienced any before? It is not easy. It's hard because the term itself seems designed to make it hard, in my opinion. A microaggression is unintended, while aggression is very much intended. "Micro" + "aggression" should mean "a small aggression", but it means actually something very different. It's confusing. I think avoiding overly academic terms like "microaggressions" would help here. Instead of explaining terms, just talk plain and to the point: > "When you say 'Usually girls don't like [some geeky thing]', it can make the woman hearing it uncomfortable. It's factually true that few women are interested, but it's not cool to point it out, better to avoid saying it and not look like a jerk." No need for new theoretical terms with confusing meanings.
- kelukelugames 12y ago
  I agree with you one hundred percent. We need better words than privilege and micro aggression. Even the fucking hr rep laughed at me when I used those words.
  - theorique 12y ago
    Maybe "microtransgression"? As pointed out upthread, "aggression" suggests intention, whereas "transgression" suggests a violated boundary, but does not assume intent.

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theOnliest 12y ago

I'm not sure that anyone has to agree to work on one at a time. If each person worked on one at a time, that would be great! Nobody is going to get mad at someone for consciously trying to use "women" instead of "girls" just because we all agreed it's "No default male avatar" month.

proksoup 12y ago

I find enumerating the multiple types of micro-aggressions helps the micro-aggressor understand the larger picture of how their many different acts of micro-aggression add up to a hostile atmosphere. Doing so also helps me appear hostile to them, which distracts/sidelines the dialogue a bit.

kaitai 12y ago

That would be really interesting: if everyone focused on one behavior for a month, then tried another one for a month -- like zenhabits' monthly habit-formation themes but for tech citizenship. What a cool idea! (Also, I agree with your edits & comment re: caring fatigue.)

brighteyes 12y ago

> Have you tried explaining microagressions to someone who has never exprienced any before? It is not easy. It's hard because the term itself seems designed to make it hard, in my opinion. A microaggression is unintended, while aggression is very much intended. "Micro" + "aggression" should mean "a small aggression", but it means actually something very different. It's confusing. I think avoiding overly academic terms like "microaggressions" would help here. Instead of explaining terms, just talk plain and to the point: > "When you say 'Usually girls don't like [some geeky thing]', it can make the woman hearing it uncomfortable. It's factually true that few women are interested, but it's not cool to point it out, better to avoid saying it and not look like a jerk." No need for new theoretical terms with confusing meanings.

kelukelugames 12y ago
I agree with you one hundred percent. We need better words than privilege and micro aggression. Even the fucking hr rep laughed at me when I used those words.
- theorique 12y ago
  Maybe "microtransgression"? As pointed out upthread, "aggression" suggests intention, whereas "transgression" suggests a violated boundary, but does not assume intent.