People love using thinly veiled existing racist/homophobic slurs against AI. “Tinskin”, “wireback”, “cogsucker”, “clanker.”
Yes, I know that “clanker” was in Star Wars. That’s not what made it so popular, and the majority of people using it today likely never saw it there. People also use “clanka” and leave comments about using “the hard r.”
We all know what you’re talking about. You know when you’re typing it out. It’s not alright.
There are people places like Lemmy who spent their lives being called or watching their families be called the terms people are so lightly tossing about today. Do you really think that doesn’t bother any of them?
It seems like so many people were just eagerly waiting for something they felt it was socially acceptable to hurl slurs and abuse at, and happily reached for terms just like the ones they already knew.
Some kids at my niece’s school now think it’s cute to stare at black kids and talk loudly about how much they hate “clankas” making it very clear what they mean by it.
It’s one thing to dislike AI, how it’s been developed, and the intent of replacing human jobs. To insult AI and the people behind it.
It’s something completely different to jump in with constant streams of thinly veiled existing slurs that can and do hurt real people.


Concerning a subject matter that is unequivocally about racial undertones in US culture, your chosen source to cite is… a Bangladeshi publication?
Look into ownership of this news outlet and I think you’ll find out answer as to why they might be looking to stir up controversy around the use of derogatory terms towards technology like AI.
Spoiler: It’s the ultra-wealthy again
This is an example of the genetic fallacy. You’re ignoring the content itself to complain about it’s origin. It’s hardly the only place on the internet that says something similar, and the content is well written. It does a great job of listing the slurs and it’s point is that maybe bigotry is a bad thing.