<![CDATA[How important is it to call things by their right name?]]>How important is it to call things by their right name?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/6cd0b008-c674-49df-941b-e5f8800fddb5/how-important-is-it-to-call-things-by-their-right-nameRSS for NodeWed, 02 Sep 2026 05:31:45 GMTSat, 29 Aug 2026 23:37:15 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:23:49 GMT]]>@evan I like this reasoning and it convinces me to agree with you!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://radikal.social/users/malte/statuses/117191752372188799https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://radikal.social/users/malte/statuses/117191752372188799Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:23:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 02:43:40 GMT]]>@Ellis my thoughts are here

https://cosocial.ca/@evan/117187355711781897

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187819609639975https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187819609639975Mon, 31 Aug 2026 02:43:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 02:42:42 GMT]]>@johnefrancis elaborate!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187815846664112https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187815846664112Mon, 31 Aug 2026 02:42:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 01:37:14 GMT]]>@evan It must depend on the immediate context. In the context of computer programming, naming things correctly is pretty important.

From my archive: https://mastodon.social/@rperezrosario/114299594067375167

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/rperezrosario/statuses/117187558414259948https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.social/users/rperezrosario/statuses/117187558414259948Mon, 31 Aug 2026 01:37:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 01:02:29 GMT]]>@evan
Brother, I have a clinic appointment with my mother tomorrow. Please help me if you can. 🙏 We really need your support.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://masto.nu/ap/users/117174730334591511/statuses/117187421738102542https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://masto.nu/ap/users/117174730334591511/statuses/117187421738102542Mon, 31 Aug 2026 01:02:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:51:27 GMT]]>@evan Manhattan Island lies on the Epstein River, I tell ya... someone should inform PM Carney

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://masto.deoan.org/users/jsonstein/statuses/117187378368055928https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://masto.deoan.org/users/jsonstein/statuses/117187378368055928Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:51:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:51:25 GMT]]>So, I think my answer has to be somewhat important. There are too many other more important things -- such as conveying information, taking action, and achieving results.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187378268940801https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187378268940801Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:51:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:50:23 GMT]]>But calling something by its right name does not in and of itself right the wrongs. Calling the attack on Gaza a genocide is correct, but that has not stopped the genocide. Right thinking might aid in right action, but it is not a substitute for right action. It is the beginning of justice, not the completion of it.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187374165819455https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187374165819455Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:50:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:48:25 GMT]]>Names frame how we think. They are declarations of power -- who gets to say what the right name is. They are expressions of ideas and ways of thinking. They can mean a lot.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187366439848756https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187366439848756Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:48:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:47:42 GMT]]>Calling things by their right name has been a prominent part of movements I've supported or been an active participant in for a long time.

Which letters should be included in 2SLGBTQIA+, what name to call occupied places, how we refer to software released under particular licenses.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187363648034380https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187363648034380Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:47:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:45:41 GMT]]>Thanks to everyone who replied. Here are my thoughts:

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187355711781897https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187355711781897Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:45:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:17:41 GMT]]>@evan Oh really? At my end it says the poll ended 39 minutes ago.

Possibly an issue with the ActivityPub software I am running... or maybe a time zone glitch!]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://micro.alochana.net/objects/dd160cf9-ab5b-4c9b-97ee-9b6901dbe926https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://micro.alochana.net/objects/dd160cf9-ab5b-4c9b-97ee-9b6901dbe926Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:17:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:11:35 GMT]]>@lohang it's still open!

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187221633379045https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117187221633379045Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:11:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:02:05 GMT]]>@evan
Sorry, I missed this poll when it was active. I am replying to this from my Pleroma instance, (not from Mastodon), using a computer that runs GNU/Linux.

Let us call things by their right name.]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://micro.alochana.net/objects/b228b2c3-b9f3-4b7a-b6fa-39c5e80d3c29https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://micro.alochana.net/objects/b228b2c3-b9f3-4b7a-b6fa-39c5e80d3c29Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:02:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 23:57:25 GMT]]>@evan
The point of communication is communication. If you are not transferring the right meaning, it is pointless. But also, language is dynamic and shifting. The idea that there is a right name is fundamentally flawed.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/dpflug/statuses/117187165933532810https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/dpflug/statuses/117187165933532810Sun, 30 Aug 2026 23:57:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 21:47:13 GMT]]>@Ellis

https://evanp.me/pollfaq/#why

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117186653940520565https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/evan/statuses/117186653940520565Sun, 30 Aug 2026 21:47:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 21:12:06 GMT]]>@evan

One person's "right thing" can be another person's wrong thing. Or the "right thing" can differ depending on the context. And sometimes the "adequate thing" is sufficient.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/users/gumnos/statuses/117186515888475426https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.bsd.cafe/users/gumnos/statuses/117186515888475426Sun, 30 Aug 2026 21:12:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 21:02:03 GMT]]>@evan but why do you ask?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.nl/users/Ellis/statuses/117186476325563629https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.nl/users/Ellis/statuses/117186476325563629Sun, 30 Aug 2026 21:02:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:43:59 GMT]]>@evan somewhat important because a key part of communication is negotiating a common vocabulary. I like to try to meet people where they are and only correct/advance if it's relevant and they're interested. If an elder asks me to help them with their "iPad" and it's an android tablet I'm not going to give them a 15 minute lecture on the difference. I'm gonna fix their tablet

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.lol/users/jamesravey/statuses/117186405330330139https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.lol/users/jamesravey/statuses/117186405330330139Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:43:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:25:08 GMT]]>@evan
"Somewhat important."
In part because the communication context is important: correctly identifying The Thing to the audience trumps pedantic accuracy *unless* the incorrect choice causes actual harm and/or disrespect. So it's okay to call Lobularia "Alyssum" but not okay to misrepresent a product or dead name somebody.
And in part because of the issues of who gets to decide what the "right" name is? and what's the return on the investment of keeping up to date with it? The pushback from British birdwatchers after an international committee decided that dunnock, a name for an everyday common bird in use for a thousand years, must be replaced by "hedge accentor," a name birthed in committee, was considerable. And for the layman, keeping tabs on the renaming of government departments and agencies is almost as time-consuming and incidental as the taxonomy of flowering plants.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodonapp.uk/users/Stevenheywood/statuses/117186331150468699https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodonapp.uk/users/Stevenheywood/statuses/117186331150468699Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:25:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:15:47 GMT]]>@evan
I went with somewhat important. If what you're calling by name has feelings, very important. If I blank on the name of the freezer, it doesn't have feelings, and I'm inclined to call it "the...uhhh, upper fridge?"

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/Cassandra_Complex/statuses/117186294425494365https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://beige.party/users/Cassandra_Complex/statuses/117186294425494365Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:15:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:02:59 GMT]]>@evan It depends on how important communicating effectively with other people is.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://universeodon.com/ap/users/116500571402957681/statuses/117186244094001332https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://universeodon.com/ap/users/116500571402957681/statuses/117186244094001332Sun, 30 Aug 2026 20:02:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 19:01:47 GMT]]>@evan Bimodal answer for me. I tend to think of people as a subset of "things", and calling people by their right name (ie, the name they want me to use) is extremely important. But for non-people things, humour and whimsy often triumph over correctness. For instance, the thing on the chocolate box telling you which one is which is the "instructions".

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/roryparle/statuses/117186003407416344https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/roryparle/statuses/117186003407416344Sun, 30 Aug 2026 19:01:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to How important is it to call things by their right name? on Sun, 30 Aug 2026 18:21:00 GMT]]>@evan I think the nature of this question comes down entirely to directionality. Who gets to decide what names are right and what names are wrong. I think the state has the least authority to naming. Individuals have a right to naming themselves but not necessarily others. There is also intent inherent in all names. Is the name being proposed with an intent to improve some situation or is the name indented to cause confusion.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.wake.st/users/liaizon/statuses/117185843073903820https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.wake.st/users/liaizon/statuses/117185843073903820Sun, 30 Aug 2026 18:21:00 GMT