4 ms·

The "Chairman Pao" comments, and all the imagery comparing her to the current Chinese government. Generalising and making comparisons based on a person's race i

by nness 11y ago

The "Chairman Pao" comments, and all the imagery comparing her to the current Chinese government. Generalising and making comparisons based on a person's race is racism. Particularly so, since she was born in America.

tomp 11y ago
I think it's a comparision to the North Korean government. Not because they're both Asian, but because they are both bad.
- studentrob 11y ago
  No it is comparing her to Chairman Mao, father of the communist party in China, which is notorious for censorship. Pao herself said it is not her goal to make the site be a free speech platform. So the comparison is quite apt, since her actions are similar and even her name is similar. You're right, it's not racist, and to be clear let's just define racism, "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race" Nobody is saying that a white person would make a better CEO at reddit, nor are they saying all Asians are unsuited for it. Just that she's not the right person for it. What's shocking to me is that she has a JD and an MBA from Harvard and does not realize the value in the American definition of free speech. Her parents migrated from China, perhaps to get away from Mao's authoritarian rule, and here she is enacting it again, albeit on a much smaller scale. It seems like she's trying to implement the European definition of free speech, which limits hate speech. But having seen how that's worked out for Europe (e.g. the Charlie Hebdo attacks), and given the way Americans are raised to tolerate others with differing opinions, I can't imagine the majority of Americans would agree with her proposed values which limit insulting speech. What is and is not insulting is too subjective to be defined by law or website policy, nor is it necessary to make laws or policies to protect people's feelings. Life is f*ing difficult Pao. Grow up
bluecalm 11y ago
The criticism didn't start because of race. Yes, the most offensive images refer to her being Asian and a woman but that would happen with anybody (if CEO was white Russian male you would see Putin/Stalin buddy memes). Even now you see many with Nazi Germany, Hitler etc. which has nothing to do with her race. It's not racist because she is not treated differently because of race and criticism towards her didn't start because of her race. I am not defending the hateful posts and I think they weaken the cause as it's too easy to dismiss the whole thing as "racist" or "bunch of teenagers" but it's important distinction. Comments as yours are a problem because you deride the main issue claiming racism which has nothing to do with the situation.

by nness 11y ago

tomp 11y ago

I think it's a comparision to the North Korean government. Not because they're both Asian, but because they are both bad.

studentrob 11y ago
No it is comparing her to Chairman Mao, father of the communist party in China, which is notorious for censorship. Pao herself said it is not her goal to make the site be a free speech platform. So the comparison is quite apt, since her actions are similar and even her name is similar. You're right, it's not racist, and to be clear let's just define racism, "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race" Nobody is saying that a white person would make a better CEO at reddit, nor are they saying all Asians are unsuited for it. Just that she's not the right person for it. What's shocking to me is that she has a JD and an MBA from Harvard and does not realize the value in the American definition of free speech. Her parents migrated from China, perhaps to get away from Mao's authoritarian rule, and here she is enacting it again, albeit on a much smaller scale. It seems like she's trying to implement the European definition of free speech, which limits hate speech. But having seen how that's worked out for Europe (e.g. the Charlie Hebdo attacks), and given the way Americans are raised to tolerate others with differing opinions, I can't imagine the majority of Americans would agree with her proposed values which limit insulting speech. What is and is not insulting is too subjective to be defined by law or website policy, nor is it necessary to make laws or policies to protect people's feelings. Life is f*ing difficult Pao. Grow up

bluecalm 11y ago

The criticism didn't start because of race. Yes, the most offensive images refer to her being Asian and a woman but that would happen with anybody (if CEO was white Russian male you would see Putin/Stalin buddy memes). Even now you see many with Nazi Germany, Hitler etc. which has nothing to do with her race. It's not racist because she is not treated differently because of race and criticism towards her didn't start because of her race. I am not defending the hateful posts and I think they weaken the cause as it's too easy to dismiss the whole thing as "racist" or "bunch of teenagers" but it's important distinction. Comments as yours are a problem because you deride the main issue claiming racism which has nothing to do with the situation.