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@silverlightgirl
Last active July 13, 2023 10:35
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List of slurs to be blocked (Indian context)
(Sources: https://www.scoopwhoop.com/news/words-you-didnt-know-are-casteist-offensive/, https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-explore/casteism-in-our-words-10-casteist-slurs-and-why-we-need-to-stop-throwing-them-around)
Hijra
Bhangi
Kutta
Malech
Dhobi
Chamar
Chandaal
Pariah
Mahar
Kanjar
Bajaari,
Avusaari
Avisaari
Thevadiya
Chappri
Bhand
Chinki
Kallu
Chuhra
Harijan
Dhedhgujari
Kasai
Jungli
Mala Mokam
Madiga Chestalu
Wadar
Poramboke
Kameena/Kameeni
Yanaadibuddulu
Budabukkaladana
Nakkalollapanulu
Lambadi
ChambarChoukashi
Yerukalollu
Kachra
Maharki
Ricebag
@boondi87
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boondi87 commented Jul 13, 2023

you may want to add bajaari, avusaari,avisaari,thevadiya,chappri,bhand,chinki,kallu,ricebag

@michaelsnook
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can't wait till the devs find out that P*r**h is a casteist slur...

@boondi87
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ricebag as well

@teejavus
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Kameena,
Kameeni,
Mala mokam,
Malamokam,
Chuhra,
Yanaadibuddulu,
Budabukkaladana,
Nakkalollapanulu,
Lambadi,
ChambarChoukashi,
Yerukalollu,
kachra,
kasai
Maharki,

ref: https://twitter.com/anticastecat/status/1062673905645584384

@silverlightgirl
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Thanks folks, added these suggestions.

@michaelsnook
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Hey so I don't know some of these but some of them look like... if you say it to someone spittingly then yes it's disrespectful but like on its own the word may not be a slur... like Kutta isn't a slur on its own, right? I could be like kushikutta69.bsky.social and that wouldn't be disrespectful to any community, ya?

I feel like the nature of slurs and tone and vibe makes it harder to make lists like this, but e.g. Hijra is also one that doesn't seem like a slur, or at least lots of people self-identify with it, and if someone wants to make a username where they use the word about themselves then this should be okay?

@silverlightgirl
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Yeah @michaelsnook I was in two minds about these 2 words and few others but Google told me that they COULD be used as slurs so I went ahead and included them. Maybe if more persons feel that these words aren't eligible here we can remove them. This is a draft/work in progress list for time being.

@michaelsnook
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Yep I totally understand the draft-iness of it all, I'm just jumping in! I hope that's fine.

I imagine there are caste-informed content moderation experts out there who might have a more complete and answer, but I think for words that are not slurs on their own... like if we look at the word and we say "okay you'd really have to put this one into context for it to be insulting" then we shouldn't include them in a blanket block-list.

In the USA, the word "boy" can be used in a very racist way, and when we hear it we hear it, but you would never ban "boy" from usernames just like that. If people do manage to deploy usernames in this kind of way we'll need to be able to submit complaints and stuff but I think that will be another question/conversation.

I don't know the words on here well enough to say whether they are generally slurs or only in specific contexts (and used commonly or positively in other contexts), but if there are other words on there that are general words (like "kutta") then I suggest taking them out too.

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