People love using thinly veiled existing racist/homophobic slurs against AI. “Tinskin”, “wireback”, “cogsucker”, “clanker.”
Yes, I know that “clanker” was in Star Wars. That’s not what made it so popular, and the majority of people using it today likely never saw it there. People also use “clanka” and leave comments about using “the hard r.”
We all know what you’re talking about. You know when you’re typing it out. It’s not alright.
There are people places like Lemmy who spent their lives being called or watching their families be called the terms people are so lightly tossing about today. Do you really think that doesn’t bother any of them?
It seems like so many people were just eagerly waiting for something they felt it was socially acceptable to hurl slurs and abuse at, and happily reached for terms just like the ones they already knew.
Some kids at my niece’s school now think it’s cute to stare at black kids and talk loudly about how much they hate “clankas” making it very clear what they mean by it.
It’s one thing to dislike AI, how it’s been developed, and the intent of replacing human jobs. To insult AI and the people behind it.
It’s something completely different to jump in with constant streams of thinly veiled existing slurs that can and do hurt real people.
Don’t take it personally.
Lemmy is really… militant. A large fraction of people here seem to be okay with that kind of behavior as long as its at the right target. And I think social media has rubbed off on many parents, who instill that in their kids.
I am not a parent, so you probably shouldn’t listen to me. But. If I was talking to my 10 year old, I’d try to explain why the other kids are using that kind of slang. I think it would make more sense than simply telling them friends are saying bad things. Kids are smarter than people given them credit for, in my experience, as long as you frame things within their experience.
She knows what the n word is. But kids get in trouble using that so they’re migrating to the shiny new c word everyone’s so comfortable using in just the same ways.
Lemmy seems to have a really uncomfortable and unexpected amount of hate. The minute someone doesn’t fit in an established tribe so many people here become rabid.
Agreed.
To be fair, most social media runs on ragebait now; it’s just hidden in some feeds.
But I’m disappointed Lemmy, collectively, decided to import it and lean into it. It makes me sad.