[PD] about sexism

[Charles Henry]

> How do you know it doesn't reflect on this list?
> And more importantly, who cares if it does?

I think sexism is a subject that should be dealt with here on the
pd-list.  And I think that the many replies here show that people on
the list do in fact care about it.

Allow me to try to condense the issue, as I see it, a bit:
1st:  The pd-list is an all-inclusive public forum.
2nd:  Sexist, racist, homophobic or otherwise derrogatory remarks
detract from the inclusiveness and usefulness of the forum.
3rd:  Slang does need some disambiguation to avoid creating the
perception of bias and insider/outsider differences.
4th:  The language of our discussion should try to positively change
people's minds about how to use the forum, rather than confront them
as individuals.
i.e. inflammatory, offensive, argumentative posts on topic--not so helpful

just to precede any comments that I'm being preachy:
No, I don't think I'm better than other people just because I haven't
said anything insensitive--lately.  I think many people on the list
have made valid points and I support them.  I am sometimes offended by
comments on the list, that I don't say anything about them.  And in
fact, I don't think that we collectively or individually should do
anything about it.  I have faith that the list is used with the best
of intentions, or at least, a sense of humor.  But I would suggest
that people choose language that avoids bias and the perception of
bias.

Chuck