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.
I stayed on Twitter for awhile because I had connected with other Endometriosis advocates and didn’t want to lose those connections. Yesterday did it for me though. I did one last tweet calling Elon out and then I deleted the app.
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.
I just can’t wrap my head around why Elon is constantly trying to tailor Twitter to cater to the biggest losers on the internet. Is this what being terminally divorced does to the brain?
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Testing him on his misread, he confirmed he was stuck in an outdated paradigm.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.
Many of us assumed Mr. Musk had everyone's, and I mean, everyone's best interests in mind when he purchased Twitter, and became the CEO, or President, or Head Huncho - whatever the title. We have to post reminders to his Twitter Account. Social media platforms, are a "level playing field." We must add his name to the list of those influencers who must be educated. Mr. Musk often is cited for applying the First Principles of Thought to every problem as he, and his team work on solutions. I wish he would step back more often and consider the real world problems facing the transgender community of human beings; of which many whom support his Twitter company. Movng forward: Let's continue to keep our chin up. . We can do this. Please stay as safe, and healthy as possible. Sending lots, and lots of Love from London, Ontario, Canada.
I'm going to have to disagree here on "Many of us assumed...". Prior to his purchase of twitter he was a hate-filled transphobe. Why would one think it would change twitter for the better with someone like that at the helm?
As others have said, the time to delete the app has long passed and today is as good a day as any if you've not yet.
Great points. I am grateful for your reply. We are aware of the old adage, cream rises to the top, and unfortunately, those "brown coloured logs" of human waste float on the surface too. If present society considered tearing down, or dismantling every structure made of concrete and steel, and/or digitally online, because it is visited by hate-filled constributors, what would we have left? I offer this; if the Twitter application is destined to turn into digital dust, it will in its own time. The "evolution" of society as it is represented by content on social media plaltforms? I agree with you, those "others" will decide and determine the ultimate fate of Twitter. In the meantime, Mr. Musk needs to be educated on some issues. Will he ever learn? Hmm. Shouldn't stop us from presenting our views on Twitter?
This is just another way for transphobes to play victim while terrorizing trans people.
Bingo
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 stayed on Twitter for awhile because I had connected with other Endometriosis advocates and didn’t want to lose those connections. Yesterday did it for me though. I did one last tweet calling Elon out and then I deleted the app.
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.
I just can’t wrap my head around why Elon is constantly trying to tailor Twitter to cater to the biggest losers on the internet. Is this what being terminally divorced does to the brain?
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.
This is what I think. They think there's no need for the word cisgender since transgender doesn't really exist. (And yes, it's hate).
Makes perfect sense to me.
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.
They object to anything that normalizes being trans and doesn’t center them as the factory preset of being a human.
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.
Many of us assumed Mr. Musk had everyone's, and I mean, everyone's best interests in mind when he purchased Twitter, and became the CEO, or President, or Head Huncho - whatever the title. We have to post reminders to his Twitter Account. Social media platforms, are a "level playing field." We must add his name to the list of those influencers who must be educated. Mr. Musk often is cited for applying the First Principles of Thought to every problem as he, and his team work on solutions. I wish he would step back more often and consider the real world problems facing the transgender community of human beings; of which many whom support his Twitter company. Movng forward: Let's continue to keep our chin up. . We can do this. Please stay as safe, and healthy as possible. Sending lots, and lots of Love from London, Ontario, Canada.
I'm going to have to disagree here on "Many of us assumed...". Prior to his purchase of twitter he was a hate-filled transphobe. Why would one think it would change twitter for the better with someone like that at the helm?
As others have said, the time to delete the app has long passed and today is as good a day as any if you've not yet.
Great points. I am grateful for your reply. We are aware of the old adage, cream rises to the top, and unfortunately, those "brown coloured logs" of human waste float on the surface too. If present society considered tearing down, or dismantling every structure made of concrete and steel, and/or digitally online, because it is visited by hate-filled constributors, what would we have left? I offer this; if the Twitter application is destined to turn into digital dust, it will in its own time. The "evolution" of society as it is represented by content on social media plaltforms? I agree with you, those "others" will decide and determine the ultimate fate of Twitter. In the meantime, Mr. Musk needs to be educated on some issues. Will he ever learn? Hmm. Shouldn't stop us from presenting our views on Twitter?
Oh, bless your heart.