Sammy (friend of foxes)

I have the opinion that bigotry, in all its forms, should be stamped out to the fullest extent you can reasonably achieve, wherever you come across it.

I don't believe this to be a controversial opinion, but I'd be keen to know your thoughts on if holding such an opinion makes someone unable to neutrally approach certain topics/situations — for example, being able to take a neutral, "policy based" response to allegations of transphobia against a Wikipedia editor.

Yes — holding such an opinion makes you unable to neutrally approach certain topics
13.5%
Unsure/this depends heavily on context/the situation
32.4%
No — holding such an opinion does not make you unable to neutrally approach certain topics
54.1%
Poll ended at .
Mar 22, 2023 at 7:21pmWeb
Show threadSammy (friend of foxes)Mar 22, 2023
( oh, and I don't normally do the whole "boost for reach" shtick, but if you wouldn't mind.... ​ )
Show threadKevin Karhan Mar 22, 2023

@theresnotime I think you're #based because #HumanRights are not #Negotiable...

#Wikipedia sadly is rife with reactionary [trans-]misogynist assholes in positions of power...

Show threadNO FUTUREMar 22, 2023
@theresnotime no this stance doesn't make it impossible to be neutral. it is inherently impossible to be neutral
Show threadSammy (friend of foxes)Mar 22, 2023
@taq true, and that's a whole discussion that I'm nowhere near qualified to opine about, so I suppose what I'm asking is in relation to "the average person's understanding of neutrality"
Show threadDamnKimberleeMar 22, 2023
IMHO, We must make all thing’s equal before we can remove the prejudice and bigotry. Equality breeds trust. First things first though, we have to stop the propaganda! Because propaganda creates victims out of people who have no clue what the hell they’re angry about--creating a false victimhood in lieu of decent parenting and social responsibility.
Show threadkira :3Mar 22, 2023

I think such a belief makes someone more aware of the circumstances of bigotry, and for someone who isn't tuned in, perhaps it could look like "bias" to them. Perceptions of neutrality can dilute the enforcement of policy if the bigoted behavior is seen as "normal" to those making the assessment.

So, does holding such a belief make one unable to make a policy based assessment of a situation? No, I think such a person would have a greater range of understanding of how such a policy should apply. People who are unaware of their own implicit biases may, by this nature, perceive something different, though

Show threadPax Ahimsa GethenMar 22, 2023

@theresnotime

As I stated in my "Transgender Gap" presentation at WikiConference North America, a so-called "neutral" viewpoint is that of a straight cisgender white male. This was in 2016; don't think things have changed much since then.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:The_Transgender_Gap_-_October_2016.pdf&page=9

I appreciate the intent behind your survey, regardless. Just feeling physically ill from transphobia on Wikipedia and society in general right now.

File:The Transgender Gap - October 2016.pdf - Wikimedia Commons

Show threadSammy (friend of foxes)Mar 22, 2023
@funcrunch 🫂
Show threadBitnikMar 22, 2023

@theresnotime
It's been a long time since I was involved in Wikipedia, but in the period I was there having an opinion wasn't counted against you.

Also unlike some in the press, Wikipedia doesn't seek to give equal time to all opinions. If you want to promote religion or creationism or anti-vaccination or the notion that global warming is caused by sunspots, you'll not thrive as an editor.

@brion

Show threadRafa GuillermoMar 23, 2023
@theresnotime oof. Its 2am and I'm running on fumes. Misunderstood the question and answered the exact opposite of my actual opinion. Looks like it doesn't make much difference to the results overall which I am glad to see but I definitely need to go to bed rip my cognitive function 🙃
Show threadRafa GuillermoMar 23, 2023
@theresnotime I think in general holding an opinion absolutely does not mean that one is unable to be impartial, but also it shouldn't be taken for granted that they are impervious to bias. But bigotry by nature is more prone to bias in discussion & writing because at its core it comes from lack of understanding of a given thing. Facts give way to opinions when opinions are all that's known
Show threadRafa GuillermoMar 23, 2023
@theresnotime I was reading something the other day about the paradox of tolerance and how the solution comes from how tolerance is by a social contract. Intolerance is the rejection of this contract and in doing so, the intolerant are not bound by its rules and therefore intolerance itself should not be tolerated