Princeton University Banning the Word ‘Man’

[Patch]

Good grief. Now I'm stuck with "old fart". 

[Strandly]

Hahaha, what a flaming load of shit.  Now you too can pay 100 grand a year to get brainwashed by some feminazi.

I would comment more but I'm off to the club to try and pick up a woperson. 

[Missouri Swede]

32 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

I know someone that insists on using the word "persyn" instead of "person". I guess the son part is also a gender reference.

The "son" refers to sound, as in "to sound through," as in a mask of an actor, from French and Latin, IIRC. Or so I learned from a podcast a while back. 

I think some folks just don't like the appearance of something that looks/sounds gender specific.

[Gunther]

It's silly yet harmless, at the minute.  However, as the article indicated, at least one school implies consequences for non-adherence.  I can easily forsee that mindset spreading and evolving.  That's where it becomes dangerous, slippery slope and all that...

As it is, I've heard far worse coming from our institutions of higher learning over the past few years so this particular item doesn't move the needle for me.  

Already got one kid through with no mental damage.  Next one starts in 2 years but she too has a solid foundation so I think she'll survive it as well.

[newtogolf]

I don't really have an issue with the policy, but what happened to freedom of speech?  It seems that not only is PC speak encouraged but non-PC speak has consequences which in itself seems to contradict freedom of speech.  

[drmevo]

5 minutes ago, newtogolf said:

I don't really have an issue with the policy, but what happened to freedom of speech?  It seems that not only is PC speak encouraged but non-PC speak has consequences which in itself seems to contradict freedom of speech.  

That's not how it works.  What does freedom of speech have to do with this?

[DaveP043]

6 minutes ago, newtogolf said:

I don't really have an issue with the policy, but what happened to freedom of speech?  It seems that not only is PC speak encouraged but non-PC speak has consequences which in itself seems to contradict freedom of speech.  

Not necessarily.  We've talked about this kind of thing in a number of other threads.  The students will certainly be allowed to write using whatever words they choose to use.  But they'll be evaluated on those words.  As long as they're informed as to what the preferred terms are, I have no problem with it.  We may not agree with the professor's preferences, but in his classroom he's the boss.

And to be fair, the Princeton policy related only to Princeton HR communications, and was not intended to apply to the students themselves.  The article did discuss other universities, the potential for certain professors to prefer specific words and phrases.  

Again, this general debate came up in other threads, including the PGA v. Donald Trump discussion, and the Muirfield v. female members.  In those cases, Trump and Muirfield made choices and/or statements that were legal under the law.  However, other people quite legitimately made decisions based on those choices and statements. 

[newtogolf]

35 minutes ago, drmevo said:

That's not how it works.  What does freedom of speech have to do with this?

Because freedom of speech allows me to use any words I like, as long as they aren't hate words, without consequence.

[Strandly]

1 minute ago, newtogolf said:

Because freedom of speech allows me to use any words I like, as long as they aren't hate words, without consequence.

Not true.  Wikipedia has a great short explanation of what the law grants you:

" Freedom of speech is the right to communicate one's opinions and ideas without fear of government retaliation or censorship."

" Governments restrict speech with varying limitations. Common limitations on speech relate to libel, slander, obscenity, pornography, sedition, incitement, fighting words, classified information, copyright violation, trade secrets, non-disclosure agreements, the right to privacy, the right to be forgotten, political correctness, public security, public order, public nuisance, campaign finance reform, perjury, and oppression."

[DaveP043]

13 minutes ago, newtogolf said:

Because freedom of speech allows me to use any words I like, as long as they aren't hate words, without consequence.

Not true, it allows you to use the words you choose without government prohibition.  Individuals and non-governmental organizations are absolutely free to base their own actions and evaluations on those words you choose to use.  Your choice of words absolutely does have consequences.

[drmevo]

15 minutes ago, newtogolf said:

Because freedom of speech allows me to use any words I like, as long as they aren't hate words, without consequence.

Whose definition of freedom of speech is that? The only real guarantee of free speech is that defined by the Constitution, and it has nothing to do with this.

Edit: @Strandly beat me to it.

Edited August 19, 2016 by drmevo

[Abu3baid]

Oh man.  I mean oh shit.

[newtogolf]

17 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Not true, it allows you to use the words you choose without government prohibition.  Individuals and non-governmental organizations are absolutely free to base their own actions and evaluations on those words you choose to use.  Your choice of words absolutely does have consequences.

You're correct, I had a brain fart and forgot Princeton was a private school.  

[DaveP043]

Just now, newtogolf said:

You're correct, I had a brain fart and forgot Princeton was a private school.  

LOL, its all good, happens to the best of us.  

[DrvFrShow]

But Mankind?

[mcanadiens]

Yeah. Not really a freedom of speech deal. More like an increasing feeling of disassociation.

It's sort of a realization that in the very near future, I'll be the same guy that used to use the word "negro" when I was a boy.

[Valleygolfer]

So should "Princeton" be called "Heirofroyaltyton?"

[drmevo]

12 minutes ago, newtogolf said:

You're correct, I had a brain fart and forgot Princeton was a private school.  

Not to pile on, but since you brought it up, it doesn't really matter if it's a private or public school.