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eldersveld t1_je50r8i wrote

Sure, fine. I'm all for the evolution of both language and sensibilities. But...

>In an internal memo, parks department officials announced that any reference to “comfort station” will be replaced with “public restroom” or “public restroom building,” effective immediately, as part of a “conscious effort to champion and support human dignity.”

That made me laugh, because I swear, this is what we do best: performative actions that merit a press release but don't concretely address anything. You want to "champion and support human dignity," reopen all park and subway restrooms, build many, many more public restrooms, and staff them properly. Then the delivery driver that I saw pissing onto the curb a while ago would have other, more dignified options.

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CactusBoyScout t1_je54s15 wrote

Reminds me of when the American Medical Association put out a guide to “more inclusive language” for doctors and nurses that included recommendations like not saying “combat disease” anymore because of “violent connotations” that could upset some people.

But the AMA made no mention of things like abortion rights or universal healthcare (they oppose it) which would make actual meaningful differences for people. What’s more upsetting? Hearing the term “combat” or being forced to carry your rapist’s baby? Or not being able to afford life-saving medical care? 🤔

Cribbing from this great NYTimes opinion piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/15/opinion/diversity-equity-inclusion.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

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template009 t1_je5xys0 wrote

This is progressive theater.

Like the TSA is security theater.

Does nothing, looks ridiculous, bound to please some offense troll somewhere.

It is like wearing a mask alone in an outdoor selfie.

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mowotlarx t1_je5oxjw wrote

It wasn't a press release. It was an internal memo. This was never going to be discussed as a political point, the intent was just to begin changing how they name internally and then on website, signage, etc. without comment.

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