[PATCH v2 00/13] Replace us of term abort

[Stephen Hemminger]

On Wed, 06 Sep 2023 23:19:23 +0200
Thomas Monjalon <thomas at monjalon.net> wrote:

> 06/09/2023 21:39, Stephen Hemminger:
> > On Wed, 30 Aug 2023 18:49:14 +0200
> > Thomas Monjalon <thomas at monjalon.net> wrote:
> >   
> > > I don't feel the rationale should be followed here.
> > > If there are better terms, why not.
> > > But really, "abort" is not only medical.
> > > And banning this word may be felt as a political position,
> > > which is not what we want.
> > > 
> > > I am OK to replace if there is a better word in some contexts,
> > > but we should not make it forbidden.  
> > 
> > There are two overlapping reasons behind this.
> > First, any reference to abortion in the US is a political hot button.  
> 
> Sorry that you live in such a country ;)
> 
> > Therefore the recommendation is to avoid the term.
> > 
> > The other reason is that the term may raise some negative feelings
> > from people that have had to have an abortion.  
> 
> Forbidding the word may be understood as the opposite reason.
> That's why I think we should not forbid the word officially.

With word choices, it is important to get an answer from the person most
likely to be impacted. I.e what would a politically active female in US
have to say.  Let me ask around to see if it matters.