Use inclusive language in Solid technical reports

[csarven]

Inspired by w3c/idcg#17

[csarven]

Why would anyone need to be knowledgeable about science fiction? I think Guinan and Darmok are considerably better than Alice/Bob/Carl.. which happen to be very English-centric, and boring if I may add.

[jeff-zucker]

I agree with @RubenVerborgh on this one. Insider jokes that give people the feeling "everyone gets this but me" are not inclusive. Names that emphasize ethnic/cultural diversity seem more appropriate here.

[TallTed]

I don't care if the chosen names are boring, as the point is not the names nor the non-people at all, but the activities in which they are supposed to be participating. The only reason for using names at all is to make the usage scenario easier to think about.

No matter what language(s) we choose, someone will feel alienation or disinclusion, because we can't use every language at once. Given that the docs are in English, it seems to me to make some sense for the placeholding names to be English-centric, as names from any other language/ethnicity/culture will be jarring from the textual flow to some degree.

Maybe, since every group that works on Use Cases & Requirements (among other) docs will run into this sooner or later, we should consider pushing for a cross-WG/CG/IG/XG/*G Task Force to build such an inclusive name set that everyone can use going forward, instead of all of us reinventing this wheel on a regular basis?

[csarven]

Happy to celebrate people/names from under represented ethnic/cultural backgrounds.

I disagree with the example of a techie white guy not getting in on minor fun or getting offended while working at Google.

Using Guinan as example was to celebrate a wise black woman. Yes, a scifi character. I picked one. The intention wasn't to exclude people but point taken if that offends some. We can improve. I created this issue and used those examples to change the frame .. hopefully for the better.

[csarven]

No matter what language(s) we choose, someone will feel alienation or disinclusion, because we can't use every language at once.

That's not at all the point. Pick random names from different backgrounds.

Given that the docs are in English, it seems to me to make some sense for the placeholding names to be English-centric, as names from any other language/ethnicity/culture will be jarring from the textual flow to some degree.

I could not disagree more. Completely missing the point.

[VirginiaBalseiro]

No matter what language(s) we choose, someone will feel alienation or disinclusion, because we can't use every language at once. Given that the docs are in English, it seems to me to make some sense for the placeholding names to be English-centric, as names from any other language/ethnicity/culture will be jarring from the textual flow to some degree.

This is problematic. Following this logic, my name is jarring in any English-speaking environment because it is not of English origin.

[VirginiaBalseiro]

But to people with a different background than myself, the alienation coming from references to something outside of their frame of reference might evoke a stronger reaction.

I personally have no knowledge of science fiction at all and I feel a much stronger reaction to "Bob" than a fictional character name.