+Frank B. Subscriber² Posted October 22, 2014 Subscriber² Share Posted October 22, 2014 #BBCtrending: The organic genderless gingerbread debate The traditional gingerbread "man" has been re-imagined by a Melbourne bakery, leading to a surge of irritation on web forums. But what does the debate tell us about the politics of the internet? Ethically aware, health-conscious liberals rejoice. The patriarchal stranglehold on baked treats has been broken at last. But not everyone is celebrating. This picture - of a row of emasculated gingerbread men - was shared on the web forum Reddit on Tuesday. As the sign makes clear, they're organic, they're gender-neutral and, of course, they're vegan. The post, titled "So this is what the world is coming to...," attracted more than 2,000 comments in just a few hours. The picture was also widely shared on Facebook, and the internet discussion prompted one British newspaper to declare, sarcastically, that "genderless gingerbread figures are a thing now". The picture itself appears to have been taken at a delicatessen in Melbourne, Australia. We've been unable to contact the owners, but - from the use of the word "genderless" alone - it seems fair to assume the message is tongue-in-cheek. That didn't stop Redditors, and others, taking umbrage with the idea. Comments like "That's so politically correct it makes my brain hurt," and "just wait, next they wont have ginger so as not to offend," sum up the tenor of the conversation. Though some appeared to find it funny, the overwhelming emotion was one of annoyance. The debate over "political correctness", and polarised views on what's good to eat, are hardly new, But the debate did highlight the way different social media platforms tend to take different sides on cultural debates. Anger over the healthy gingerbread "person" was driven by Reddit users, who are regularly criticised by feminists for their attitudes. Sure enough, one Reddit user said these were "feminist cookies," and another said "I blame Tumblr for this" - a reference to a perceived rivalry between users of Reddit and Tumblr, a popular blogging platform. Of course, both Reddit and Tumblr have users with a broad spectrum of political views, but common stereotypes are that Tumblr bloggers are over-sensitive, female, social justice campaigners (or "Tumblrinas"), whereas Redditors are aggressive, sexist, and male. A number of people in the conversation posted links to "TumblrInAction", a section of the Reddit website that pokes fun at Tumblr blogs that supposedly fit the stereotype. And to counter them, others posted "I blame ****RedditSays" - a self-parodying section of the Reddit website, where Redditors themselves pick out quotes that play up to their own negative image. Source: BBC News I'm more amused than anything by the picture. It has to be satire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Oh, please. Another example of PC run amok. Skiver, timster, DConnell and 1 other 4 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daedroth Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 They probably knew this would cause publicity...which is good for business! Skiver 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skiver Veteran Posted October 22, 2014 Veteran Share Posted October 22, 2014 Agreed with both above!! I have to admit I sense a bit of mockery in that sign that they are trying to be funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compl3x Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I'm inclined to think it was supposed to be a bit of mockery or satire. It doesn't surprise me that reddit went into full retard mode over this. Aergan 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nagisan Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Wouldn't gingerbread "man" already be politically correct? Just as "man"kind is the politically correct term for referring to the human race? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfish Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 .... Sounds like just a cute joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddman Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Could be a joke, but if not, then... :/ I say scientists should speed up their genetic researches so that we can turn ourselves into something like the asari from mass effect and end this freaking gender nonsense. /s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
123456789A Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 That's one way to troll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman273 Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Wouldn't gingerbread "man" already be politically correct? Just as "man"kind is the politically correct term for referring to the human race? Actually, humankind is the gender neutral way to say it. Mankind is oppressive to women. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I'm adding a penis to my gingerbread man. :shifty: DConnell and +E.Worm Jimmy 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nagisan Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Actually, humankind is the gender neutral way to say it. Mankind is oppressive to women. I'm gonna go with the dictionary and say "mankind" is a politically correct way of referring to the human race as a whole. +E.Worm Jimmy and The Evil Overlord 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Praetor Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Actually, humankind is the gender neutral way to say it. Mankind is oppressive to women. Actually, Mankind is opressive to any wrestler and... oh wait. The Evil Overlord 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torolol Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Actually, humankind is the gender neutral way to say it. Mankind is oppressive to women. I pretty sure that i accidentally read feminist pout why its humankind and not huwomankind. The Evil Overlord, DConnell and +E.Worm Jimmy 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+virtorio MVC Posted October 23, 2014 MVC Share Posted October 23, 2014 I'm adding a penis to my gingerbread man. :shifty: Where are you getting these penis' from, and wouldn't they just ruin the taste? +E.Worm Jimmy 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman273 Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 I'm gonna go with the dictionary and say "mankind" is a politically correct way of referring to the human race as a whole. http://io9.com/5962243/think-twice-before-using-mankind-to-mean-all-humanity-say-scholars TL;DR: Words are what they mean right now, and over the past forty years "humanity" has become more acceptable than "mankind" if you want to refer to all human beings, both male and female.Or, as Pareles put it succinctly, "In my opinion, 'humanity' and 'humankind' are the appropriate words in contemporary English." ...and I was also being sarcastic in my original comment... Words are meant to communicate so if you use a word and everyone knows what you mean then it should be fine. If you use a word to purposefully be hurtful then you deserve to be called out. I think everyone should understand when someone says mankind they're not trying to say something like women don't matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshie Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 As long as they keep their hands off my croque madame/monsieur. They can do whatever they want with Mr. Coffee, though. I expect them to have renamed ladyfingers, while they were at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Overlord Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 As long as they keep their hands off my croque madame/monsieur. They can do whatever they want with Mr. Coffee, though. I expect them to have renamed ladyfingers, while they were at it. You mean Ocra? :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 So, if were gonna go 100% PC, can someone tell me where I can order some organic, lightly spiced sweetbread biscuits shaped roughly like a bipedal lifeform of no fixed gender? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts