Elon Musk declared that "cis" is a slur on twitter. The word is no more a slur than "straight" or "heterosexual," and it has over a hundred years of use to describe gender identity or presentation.
If "straight white male" has become a derogatory term, the people who are responsible for that are straight white males by virtue of their behavior. Regarding "cisgender," Mike Figueredo has it right - just using the descriptor, which is itself entirely neutral, prevents bigots from "other"-izing" trans folks because it eliminates a default position. That's what's behind the entire culture war.
I wonder if it’s genuine or accidental whataboutism - they’re basically ignoring actual hate speech and saying, “what about this term, it makes me uncomfortable”
Sure, it probably does for reasons outlined in other comments here - that it eliminates the default assumption (just like having everyone share pronouns does). But also it’s their default tactic. To put us on the defensive.
The only option is to stand by truth and fact and keep using cis on Twitter. Or better yet, delete Twitter. It’s a hate-filled place with no value.
Sometimes you have to just shake your head. I guess the theory is if you can deny that cisgender is a thing then you can deny that transgender is a thing. Or it just could be ignorance I don't know. But considering who it is makes it hard for me to believe that hate isn't involved somehow.
When I posted on my Facebook page what Erin reported on the courts that have pushed back on the anti-trans legislation, a liberal friend read 'gender dysphoria' as 'mental illness' and he said he agreed with that.
That is, he didn't get it.
Testing him on his misread, he confirmed he was stuck in an outdated paradigm. I was surprised and disappointed. I shouldn't have been. Even bright, usually sane and reasonably empathetic straights resist informing themselves on what they still think is a distant matter to them. It will take time to get through to these people.
This is exactly the calculation of the money guys behind this hate campaign: confuse and poison the public perception of a small, complex minority. We have a moral imperative to stand up against this evil.
Twitter has become a cesspool since Elon took over. I stopped using it months ago. I think he's hoping to turn it into the social media version of fox news to try and make it profitable. Yuck.
I can understand an ideological objection to the use of the terms "cisgender" and "transgender"; if you don't believe gender is real or can diverge from sex, than use of either term is effectively an affirmation of unreality. I think this is the basis for the objection of Walsh and Knowles.
But a slur? That seems a stretch. Have any of the people making this assessment explained why they think the way they do? Is it possible it's rooted in some sort of insecurity?
I guess it doesn't matter; Musk will do as he likes with Twitter. But it's not much of a free speech stance. If his real objections are ideological, I think he should say so, rather than appeal to something that does not appear to be reasonable.
I've never a twitter user but I do wish I could tweet "Dumbellius Silencia" at JK Rowling.
Denying gender identity is nothing more than science denial. These dopes are in the same boat s the Catholic church when they denied the heliocentric solar system. But science always wins. These people will tomorrow's laughingstock when we inaugurate President Zooey Zephyr.
"Cisgender" Is No More A Slur Than "Straight" Is - Elon Musk Restricts Term On Twitter
This is just another way for transphobes to play victim while terrorizing trans people.
If "straight white male" has become a derogatory term, the people who are responsible for that are straight white males by virtue of their behavior. Regarding "cisgender," Mike Figueredo has it right - just using the descriptor, which is itself entirely neutral, prevents bigots from "other"-izing" trans folks because it eliminates a default position. That's what's behind the entire culture war.
Twitter as one commenter here said “It’s a hate-filled place with no value.” exactly. The only reasonable thing to do is close and delete the app.
The best time to leave Twitter was six months ago. The second best time is today.
I wonder if it’s genuine or accidental whataboutism - they’re basically ignoring actual hate speech and saying, “what about this term, it makes me uncomfortable”
Sure, it probably does for reasons outlined in other comments here - that it eliminates the default assumption (just like having everyone share pronouns does). But also it’s their default tactic. To put us on the defensive.
The only option is to stand by truth and fact and keep using cis on Twitter. Or better yet, delete Twitter. It’s a hate-filled place with no value.
Elon sucks.
Sometimes you have to just shake your head. I guess the theory is if you can deny that cisgender is a thing then you can deny that transgender is a thing. Or it just could be ignorance I don't know. But considering who it is makes it hard for me to believe that hate isn't involved somehow.
How to ensure you're referenced as Cis more. Elon is dumb. First thing I did was call him a straight cisgender man on Twitter. Please ban me, Elon.
Mastodon is here waiting for you! Just saying... 😁
When I posted on my Facebook page what Erin reported on the courts that have pushed back on the anti-trans legislation, a liberal friend read 'gender dysphoria' as 'mental illness' and he said he agreed with that.
That is, he didn't get it.
Testing him on his misread, he confirmed he was stuck in an outdated paradigm. I was surprised and disappointed. I shouldn't have been. Even bright, usually sane and reasonably empathetic straights resist informing themselves on what they still think is a distant matter to them. It will take time to get through to these people.
This is exactly the calculation of the money guys behind this hate campaign: confuse and poison the public perception of a small, complex minority. We have a moral imperative to stand up against this evil.
I am coming to feel very strongly about Elon Musk, and the feelings are not pleasant.
I am about as "cis" as can be, but a few people I know, and care deeply about, are not.
I just don't get this obsession with other people's sex lives.
Continue to be brave and strong - I admire you.
Twitter has become a cesspool since Elon took over. I stopped using it months ago. I think he's hoping to turn it into the social media version of fox news to try and make it profitable. Yuck.
I can understand an ideological objection to the use of the terms "cisgender" and "transgender"; if you don't believe gender is real or can diverge from sex, than use of either term is effectively an affirmation of unreality. I think this is the basis for the objection of Walsh and Knowles.
But a slur? That seems a stretch. Have any of the people making this assessment explained why they think the way they do? Is it possible it's rooted in some sort of insecurity?
I guess it doesn't matter; Musk will do as he likes with Twitter. But it's not much of a free speech stance. If his real objections are ideological, I think he should say so, rather than appeal to something that does not appear to be reasonable.
I've never a twitter user but I do wish I could tweet "Dumbellius Silencia" at JK Rowling.
Denying gender identity is nothing more than science denial. These dopes are in the same boat s the Catholic church when they denied the heliocentric solar system. But science always wins. These people will tomorrow's laughingstock when we inaugurate President Zooey Zephyr.
Man, that "I'm not cis, you are" Tweet Elon made a while back is really coming full circle, huh?
One thing I'd like to get straight is just how vile Musk is about this. He knows what he's doing.