cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/50827664

People love using thinly veiled existing racist/homophobic slurs against AI. “Tinskin”, “wireback”, “cogsucker”, “clanker.”

Yes, I know that “clanker” was in Star Wars. That’s not what made it so popular, and the majority of people using it today likely never saw it there. People also use “clanka” and leave comments about using “the hard r.”

We all know what you’re talking about. You know when you’re typing it out. It’s not alright.

There are people places like Lemmy who spent their lives being called or watching their families be called the terms people are so lightly tossing about today. Do you really think that doesn’t bother any of them?

It seems like so many people were just eagerly waiting for something they felt it was socially acceptable to hurl slurs and abuse at, and happily reached for terms just like the ones they already knew.

It’s one thing to dislike AI, how it’s been developed, and the intent of replacing human jobs. It’s something completely different to jump in with constant streams of thinly veiled slurs that can and do hurt real people.