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In reply to the discussion: Dumb it down, for fuck's sake. [View all]ancianita
(42,729 posts)124. When it comes to dumbing down, looks like the felon's anti-woke folks are a step ahead.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federal-agencies-websites-words-dei.html
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As President Trump seeks to purge the federal government of woke initiatives, agencies have flagged hundreds of words to limit or avoid, according to a compilation of government documents.
accessible
activism
activists
advocacy
advocate
advocates
affirming care
all-inclusive
allyship
anti-racism
antiracist
assigned at birth
assigned female at birth
assigned male at birth
at risk
barrier
barriers
belong
bias
biased
biased toward
biases
biases towards
biologically female
biologically male
BIPOC
Black
breastfeed + people
breastfeed + person
chestfeed + people
chestfeed + person
clean energy
climate crisis
climate science
commercial sex worker
community diversity
community equity
confirmation bias
cultural competence
cultural differences
cultural heritage
cultural sensitivity
culturally appropriate
culturally responsive
DEI
DEIA
DEIAB
DEIJ
disabilities
disability
discriminated
discrimination
discriminatory
disparity
diverse
diverse backgrounds
diverse communities
diverse community
diverse group
diverse groups
diversified
diversify
diversifying
diversity
enhance the diversity
enhancing diversity
environmental quality
equal opportunity
equality
equitable
equitableness
equity
ethnicity
excluded
exclusion
expression
female
females
feminism
fostering inclusivity
GBV
gender
gender based
gender based violence
gender diversity
gender identity
gender ideology
gender-affirming care
genders
Gulf of Mexico
hate speech
health disparity
health equity
hispanic minority
historically
identity
immigrants
implicit bias
implicit biases
inclusion
inclusive
inclusive leadership
inclusiveness
inclusivity
increase diversity
increase the diversity
indigenous community
inequalities
inequality
inequitable
inequities
inequity
injustice
institutional
intersectional
intersectionality
key groups
key people
key populations
Latinx
LGBT
LGBTQ
marginalize
marginalized
men who have sex with men
mental health
minorities
minority
most risk
MSM
multicultural
Mx
Native American
non-binary
nonbinary
oppression
oppressive
orientation
people + uterus
people-centered care
person-centered
person-centered care
polarization
political
pollution
pregnant people
pregnant person
pregnant persons
prejudice
privilege
privileges
promote diversity
promoting diversity
pronoun
pronouns
prostitute
race
race and ethnicity
racial
racial diversity
racial identity
racial inequality
racial justice
racially
racism
segregation
sense of belonging
sex
sexual preferences
sexuality
social justice
sociocultural
socioeconomic
status
stereotype
stereotypes
systemic
systemically
they/them
trans
transgender
transsexual
trauma
traumatic
tribal
unconscious bias
underappreciated
underprivileged
underrepresentation
underrepresented
underserved
undervalued
victim
victims
vulnerable populations
women
women and underrepresented
Notes: Some terms listed with a plus sign represent combinations of words that, when used together, acknowledge transgender people, which is not in keeping with the current federal governments position that there are only two, immutable sexes. Any term collected above was included on at least one agencys list, which does not necessarily imply that other agencies are also discouraged from using it.
accessible
activism
activists
advocacy
advocate
advocates
affirming care
all-inclusive
allyship
anti-racism
antiracist
assigned at birth
assigned female at birth
assigned male at birth
at risk
barrier
barriers
belong
bias
biased
biased toward
biases
biases towards
biologically female
biologically male
BIPOC
Black
breastfeed + people
breastfeed + person
chestfeed + people
chestfeed + person
clean energy
climate crisis
climate science
commercial sex worker
community diversity
community equity
confirmation bias
cultural competence
cultural differences
cultural heritage
cultural sensitivity
culturally appropriate
culturally responsive
DEI
DEIA
DEIAB
DEIJ
disabilities
disability
discriminated
discrimination
discriminatory
disparity
diverse
diverse backgrounds
diverse communities
diverse community
diverse group
diverse groups
diversified
diversify
diversifying
diversity
enhance the diversity
enhancing diversity
environmental quality
equal opportunity
equality
equitable
equitableness
equity
ethnicity
excluded
exclusion
expression
female
females
feminism
fostering inclusivity
GBV
gender
gender based
gender based violence
gender diversity
gender identity
gender ideology
gender-affirming care
genders
Gulf of Mexico
hate speech
health disparity
health equity
hispanic minority
historically
identity
immigrants
implicit bias
implicit biases
inclusion
inclusive
inclusive leadership
inclusiveness
inclusivity
increase diversity
increase the diversity
indigenous community
inequalities
inequality
inequitable
inequities
inequity
injustice
institutional
intersectional
intersectionality
key groups
key people
key populations
Latinx
LGBT
LGBTQ
marginalize
marginalized
men who have sex with men
mental health
minorities
minority
most risk
MSM
multicultural
Mx
Native American
non-binary
nonbinary
oppression
oppressive
orientation
people + uterus
people-centered care
person-centered
person-centered care
polarization
political
pollution
pregnant people
pregnant person
pregnant persons
prejudice
privilege
privileges
promote diversity
promoting diversity
pronoun
pronouns
prostitute
race
race and ethnicity
racial
racial diversity
racial identity
racial inequality
racial justice
racially
racism
segregation
sense of belonging
sex
sexual preferences
sexuality
social justice
sociocultural
socioeconomic
status
stereotype
stereotypes
systemic
systemically
they/them
trans
transgender
transsexual
trauma
traumatic
tribal
unconscious bias
underappreciated
underprivileged
underrepresentation
underrepresented
underserved
undervalued
victim
victims
vulnerable populations
women
women and underrepresented
Notes: Some terms listed with a plus sign represent combinations of words that, when used together, acknowledge transgender people, which is not in keeping with the current federal governments position that there are only two, immutable sexes. Any term collected above was included on at least one agencys list, which does not necessarily imply that other agencies are also discouraged from using it.
The above terms appeared in government memos, in official and unofficial agency guidance and in other documents viewed by The New York Times. Some ordered the removal of these words from public-facing websites, or ordered the elimination of other materials (including school curricula) in which they might be included.
The list is most likely incomplete. More agency memos may exist than those seen by New York Times reporters, and some directives are vague or suggest what language might be impermissible without flatly stating it.
All presidential administrations change the language used in official communications to reflect their own policies. It is within their prerogative, as are amendments to or the removal of web pages, which The Times has found has already happened thousands of times in this administration.
The list is most likely incomplete. More agency memos may exist than those seen by New York Times reporters, and some directives are vague or suggest what language might be impermissible without flatly stating it.
All presidential administrations change the language used in official communications to reflect their own policies. It is within their prerogative, as are amendments to or the removal of web pages, which The Times has found has already happened thousands of times in this administration.
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Negative messaging and "You" statements are proven to be ineffectual in dialogue.
Hellbound Hellhound
Mar 2025
#1
I've edited to add a bit, so you might want to do the same for clarity's sake.
Hellbound Hellhound
Mar 2025
#6
"I hope some smart people are working on this" You and me both, friend.
Hellbound Hellhound
Mar 2025
#52
Don't even worry about credit, friendo. We're on the same side, my thoughts are yours freely. n/t
Hellbound Hellhound
Mar 2025
#49
It doesn't hurt him, but it plays to his base. It's not picking up new voters but radicalizing those who vote for him.nt
Hellbound Hellhound
Mar 2025
#81
Yeah, ridiculed and mocked by everyone that saw the first ten seconds.
Hellbound Hellhound
Mar 2025
#115
I actually like it when I hear words that I need to look up - but not too many.
kerry-is-my-prez
Mar 2025
#133
Unfortunately many people are either too lazy or too busy to look things up when politicians speak
DeeDeeNY
Mar 2025
#146
Yes. Smaller words. Fewer words. "They are taking your jobs and money" to the point.
Srkdqltr
Mar 2025
#5
Your opinion changes on whether the message is delivered in a positive or negative manner?
Hellbound Hellhound
Mar 2025
#24
How about we educate while we're dumbing down shit for the dumbasses?
mucholderthandirt
Mar 2025
#10
I think it's great that you learned two new words. They are good words to know. And if you listened to
Nanjeanne
Mar 2025
#12
And to think, literacy rates and comprehension rates were actually worse 40 years ago.
Elessar Zappa
Mar 2025
#157
"The secret of the demagogue is to appear as dumb as his audience so people can believe themselves as smart as he is."
sop
Mar 2025
#29
I've noticed that people who are adept at communicating to a broad audience define the terms they use as they speak...
Harker
Mar 2025
#32
Looks like a new adjective will spring up to mean: An imbecile asshole with Narcissistic tendencies.
chouchou
Mar 2025
#35
Outside of DU, I'm not sure if I know anyone who would accurately define oligarchy or autocracy
LuckyCharms
Mar 2025
#42
"ambivalent" - sounds like one of those new woke gender terms. Does It means bivalent in the morning?
progree
Mar 2025
#143
I'm a little surprised that flapping ones hands as though playing an imaginary accordian while speaking
Harker
Mar 2025
#59
I have said this for years on DU and I get told that makes us no better than them.
AZLD4Candidate
Mar 2025
#60
Won't matter. The GOP and rich people have taught them over many decades to
travelingthrulife
Mar 2025
#66
Me too. I learned a long time ago to engage using one word responses with people who
LuckyCharms
Mar 2025
#83
As the apotheosis of use a sesquipedalian lexicon, I am preternaturally uncongenial...
NNadir
Mar 2025
#68
Your heathen, analphabetic use of the Oxford Comma reviles my personage you presumptuous Luddite. /s
Hellbound Hellhound
Mar 2025
#86
This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished.
JanMichael
Mar 2025
#138
LuckyCharms, here's a quote from David Hogg that was posted the other day on DU
FakeNoose
Mar 2025
#97
You make good points. Personally, I am in an existential crisis right now. I get it, but Bob RedHat did not
Hekate
Mar 2025
#98
Great post and I totally agree with the premise of the OP, thank you for bringing it up
blue_jay
Mar 2025
#141
I've found myself writing "Hey, man" and deleting it lately. It's all so '60s, man.
betsuni
Mar 2025
#139
All true... the vast majority of the population is sub average intelligence...
WarGamer
Mar 2025
#104
When it comes to dumbing down, looks like the felon's anti-woke folks are a step ahead.
ancianita
Mar 2025
#124
A small group of rich people who get rich because they are stealing from the rest of us Oligarchy
Clouds Passing
Mar 2025
#125
NO! I will tutt tutt, wag my fingers and head bob as I please! while yelling "mah climate" out a tesler posting on X
Nimble_Idea
Mar 2025
#130
If you've ever played any version of Civilization, you know what those two words are.
Initech
Mar 2025
#131
I actually tried it with republican acquaintances several times and Nope...
Bread and Circuses
Mar 2025
#140
I am 77 years old and in my entire life I don't think I have heard anyone but a Democratic politition
doc03
Mar 2025
#153
I find it disheartening when people project an air of superiority onto others
LuckyCharms
Mar 2025
#158