The University of Michigan has a “Words Matter Task Force,” and the organization has declared that certain words such as “picnic” and “brown bag” are offensive.
The Words Matter Task Force has “evaluated the terms and language conventions that may hinder effective communication, harm morale, and deliberately or inadvertently exclude people from feeling accepted to foment a healthy and inclusive culture.” The group, which is a part of Michigan’s Information and Technology Services, advises that people should avoid using so-called problematic words such as “privileged account,” “handicapped,” “blacklist,” “crazy,” “grandfathered,” and “dummy.”
The Information and Technology Services, a “trusted enabler of technology for the U-M community,” created the Words Matter Task Force. The group claims that by “using inclusive language, ITS is able to design and build better tools and services to meet customers’ needs.”
“Given the importance of communication and the ITS core value of inclusivity, the Words Matter Task Force was formed and charged with identifying terms used within ITS that are, or can be construed to be, racist, sexist, or non-inclusive,” the Words Matter Task Force states in the 10-page document that was updated on Dec. 8.
Inclusive language means not using sayings such as “long time no see,” “crack the whip,” “low man on the totem pole,” “off the reservation,” and “sold down the river.”
Despite the word “picnic” being labeled as offensive by the Words Matter Task Force, a Reuters fact-check article stated that the word “picnic” is “not racist” and “does not originate from the lynchings of African Americans.”
“The word picnic derives from the 17th century French word ‘pique-nique,’ a term used to describe a social gathering in which attendees each contributed with a portion of food or another useful item,” according to Dr David Pilgrim, author of several books on the history and cultural symbols of the Jim Crow era.
Despite being the “Information and Technology Services,” tech terms such as “master” and “slave” are prohibited. Technopedia defines “master/slave” as a “model of communication for hardware devices where one device has a unidirectional control over one or more devices.”
The guidance also advises people to not use the term “preferred pronouns” and to simply call them “pronouns.”
The Words Matter Task Force wants to “create educational animations/short videos for ITS staff” with three purposes:
- To encourage empathy for how others may feel when words have negative connotations.
- To spur curiosity about why words matter, and direct people to other educational resources.
- To provide a non-threatening, quick resource that is easily shared/disseminated.
The “educational” short videos would use “neutral characters” such as “stick figures.”
In September, the University of Michigan-Dearborn apologized for organizing a virtual cafe event for students that was segregated by race.
Totally ridiculous!!! Can’t change history on the basis of what some think. Leave it alone already.
The University of Michigan apparently has TOO MUCH TIME & TOO MUCH MONEY to waste and
has a “Words Matter Task Force,” I do not know where they think their authority comes from.
WE each can decide if a word or statement is offensive and do not need some whiny butt children telling us what to say.
Our forefathers (and Mothers for you idiots) were too busy loading their muskets, storming the beaches of Normandy, and trying to feed and clothe themselves to worry about such trivial things! The stupid college professors and administrations that think up this stupid crap need to be fired YESTERDAY! I hope we never have to rely on them to preserve our freedom, because if we do, we will all be slaves.
AMEN! We are dealing with total loonies who have nothing better to do with their time and our money.
Some people have too much time on their hands! Look around – there is a lot of volunteer work you could do instead of dreaming up words that you don’t like. This country has free speech and about the only speech that is forbidden is yelling “fire” in a crowded theater! Grow up!
Those people are idiots. Noone takes them seriously
Oh, yes, they do. All the little snowflakes believe every word they say.
Michigan has become a hell hole. A dictator governor and now a college telling us what words we can’t say. Screw you Michigan most your schools are useless to the children. Will give you a ticket to Iran. You love it there. They will tell you when to sit and where to crap. You people in Michigan have no brains at all.
I once lived in Iran for four years. No, they don’t tell you where you can take a crap, the poor will just squat and do it wherever they want…even the women, but the women are usually wearing a chador so they have a tent to do their business under. Please don’t discourage our liberal brothers from moving to Iran. It sounds like the perfect place for them.
The world is so upside down and this is insane. Can we please get back to a pleasant U.S.A.
At this point, Bonnie, it will take a miracle to reverse all of the brainwashing that has been done to our least intelligent portion of our population. Very sad, isn’t it?
This type of information just proves our educational system is teaching beyond its recipients ability to think as well as perhaps some of the people being taught should be doing something else.
ABSOLUTELY HOGWASH!!! I will use ANY word/phrase ANY way I wish in order to get my point across. If a word or phrase is offensive to you I’d advise you to “SUCK IT UP”. Of course, one must use his/her common sense when speaking or interacting with others. Remember, It’s impossible to pick up a “TURD” by its clean end.
LMAO…Big Mike Obama was a brown bag.
How utterly ridiculous. Those words have ZERO racial overtone. Some of thee people really should go to Liberia or somewhere, so that they never have to hear offensive white words again. They can spend their eneregy wondering where their next meal is coming from. How difficult it must be to live in a world where everything is so very offensive. This makes me want to have a picnic with a brown bag lunch, packed with bologna on white bread, and a glass of milk.
its the dumbass white left wing loonie tune liberals that are coming up with these offensive words list.if you examine most of these stupid want to be changed and/or done away wuith things 95% of the time its demanded by white libs not blacks.
Well !!!!! Kiss my Brown Bag.
I’m packing my Brown Bag lunch for work and my family is having a picnic this weekend. For those of you pukes who don’t understand this then kiss my ass!!!!!OH , by the way there are a few others words that you should consider as offensive. Biden, Harriss , Pelosi, Schumer, Waters, Clinton, and too many more to take the time to write
You guys sit around and use your “higher education” to thinking about this drivel and I am going to take my brown bag lunch and go on a picnic with a bunch of people where EVERYONE regardless of color, race, ethnicity, etc. will be treated with respect and give an equal opportunity to share in the picnic and the world.
I was going to brown bag my lunch today but decided it was a nice day for a picnic. I had a problem though i was sold down the river by a dummy co-worker now my crazy boss wants to come. Of course once my grandfather heard this he thought i had blacklisted him from all my gatherings and locked himself in the handicapped bathroom. My girl friend really cracked the whip on me telling me to stand up to my boss but as the low man on the totem poll i know not to make waves those who go off the reservation get into trouble. Luckily there was a problem at work the master switch was offline so everyone had the day off except my boss who had to stay and get the master switch back online he said i am not a slave to my work i love my job. I hope writing this little article drives all you wimpy little pro noun spouting P/C spouting morons crazy. Have a nice day
Multiculturalism is not working in our country! Too many people come here seeking success and after gaining some form of it, after leaving a country that offered little? start thinking how they can change the country that improved their lives! Ilhan a first class ingrate is a prime example of that! Lived in a tent, starving with no water and little food gets elected to Congress and hates America? Does that make sense you? All the Muslims in her district feel the same way, just try walking down the streets where they live and you would think you’re in another country! I say if they don’t like our system go back to those countries they left!
Multiculturalism is not an assimilation melting pot….
If all whites are by nature racist. Then we must erase all things white, including white word. Just another example of trying to erase white culture.
Speaking of worlds that are really offensive? Try Black Lives Matter and Antifa? How about Soros and Bloomberg and Zuckerberg and Clinton and Obama and Pelosi and Schumer and Romney and Maxine Waters and Ilhan and Pressley and the worst of ALL AOC and Tlaib ? Too tired there’s so Many more! All left wing idiots!
A big “Thumbs Up”
Totally crazy! It’s free speach to each individual! If you choose to use certain words that may be offensive to others your choice. Some recording artist will use offensive lyrics without being criticized, if you don’t like it your free to turn an ear!
I’m not sure what people thought was going to happen when many of us sat by quietly and did nothing as they shoved their political correctness down our throats and indoctrinated our children over the last 30 years.
u-m is offensive
Whhhaaattt !!! You mean you brown baggers are on a picnic over these words ??? One would think you would be more offended by the words like dick head or ass kisses or delusional democrats. Words in that nature that relate to low life’s . I know I used BROWN BAGS to carry my lunch to work . Can’t say I PICNIC alot tho . looks like someones been up all nite thinking about words not to use cause their pussy hurts . Grow the hell up bitchs . How old are you ??? Even my 8 year old grandkids know sticks and stones can break your bones , but words never can hurt you . Unless your a little bitch who crys about everything just to get your own way . Is that what your looking for ??? Or are you really a little bitch with a hurt pussy ??? Try growing up … kids may be watching you
IF brown bag and picnic are offensive and not usable,
how would you describe going on a picnic or your lunch in a brown bag?
I find the “Words Matter Task Force” to be offensive. Doesn’t matter what you say because someone somewhere always seems to get all butt hurt about it. And if you get all butt hurt about it, then that is just to damn bad. Grow a set and move along.
I wonder if stupid and dumb ass are offensive because that’s exactly what this is. i think it is time to stop giving these places our tax money.
I suggest we eliminate all forms of voice communication all together. That way there is no possibility of offending one of the snowflake libturds. I suggest hand signals so that way there is no miscommunication what so ever. Example 🖕 Gets my point across perfectly with no chance of misinterpreting my meaning
I suggest we eliminate all forms of voice communication all together. That way there is no possibility of offending one of the snowflake libturds. I suggest hand signals so that way there is no miscommunication what so ever. Example 🖕 Gets my point across perfectly with no chance of misinterpreting my meaning
Hey MICHIGAN University, I have some words for you! BROWN BAG, PICNIC and EAT MY SHORTS. If you want to be a panzy! That’s your choice. But, don’t tell what to say or not.
I have to laugh at these people that think up the sh*t that they do!!!!!! So now ‘picnic’ and a ‘brown paper bag’ are offensive!!!!!! What about these words, that people are called everyday, but nothing is said about them being offensive, you know like motherf*^ker, the F-bomb, cracker, whitey, and just about every other name, but to long of a list to do here!!!!!! But if you were to call someone, no mater the skin color a Ni^%er, you are a racist and a bigot!!!!! Why doesn’t the PC police go back and do what the have done before, which is nothing, because these words have been in the language of the world for many many years!!!!!!
Our far left privileged “education” system shining. Heres another one for you. Time for a dirt nap!
I wonder how UM administrators would feel about the phrase “F**K off you childish, over-officious, irrelevant, tax payer bleeding, socialist pandering, clueless LOSERS!”
Looks like the farm system for future imbeciles is ready to graduate the next governor of Michigan. Wake up Michiganders you don’t have to stand for this crap.
You can take virtually any word or phrase in our language and find a way to label it offensive.
Fortunately they haven’t outlawed words like ‘the’ and ‘is’ … so far!
I’m White. Let’s take some brown bag lunches on our picnic.
Are you offended? DILLIGAF!!!
I’m really tired of a world full of “victims”! Grow up people!
Have the leaders of this school of higher learning lost what little of a mind and commonsense they may have had? All these politically corrupt= ” PC” morons should try reading the constitution or take a class from Hillsdale College on the constitution. After which if they do not get a grade of A+ then they get removed from their positions and the TASK FORCE get disbanded.
Just another liberal run lefty progressive university no worth wasting money at. However, most all colleges and universities are that way now.
All this garbage about how bad our ways of talking supposedly are, and the split heads who try spreading it around should be ignored completely and we should keep talking the way we want. In some circumstances, mainly in private, even cuss words are ok.
Knowing that resources are being eaten up on this useless endeavor, I feel so much better now.
How pathetic! Ignorance like this destroys mental toughness and makes people soft.
SCREW YOU, MORONS!!
Add that to your stupid list!
Short videos? I’m extremely offended. This is so ridiculous it’s not even funny. A group that has absolutely no decent input into society. This is the best the left has to offer. The words that come to mind to describe this group most assuredly has every word on their “hit list”.
This is totally ridiculous! Don’t these idiots have something better to do with their time? And these people are teachers, no doubt from the far left socialist progressive Dems.
All t he words and phrases have meaning and are in the Webster Dictionary as words with meaning.
People need to know when they are wrong or right. People need to grow up. Take all negative or confronting things away and when something happens they won’t be able to handle it nor get over it. If that’s how you wan’t to live in Michigan then that’s up to you. Anyone else wants that they can move to Michigan. As for here, we have grown up through many situations and continue to grow. We will keep our dialog and phrases love and respect our females, be courteous and kind to others, respect others property and opinions. However we will protect our family, friends, neighbors, etc. Remember the old saying, Sticks and Stones……….. well, that is what I believe but stike me and your mine, Steal from me and Suffer the consequences. Threaten me or my family and heaven help you!
We’ve now gone so far beyond stupid as to have to create a new word…. not sure what it is, but…..
As for the videos using “neutral”, “stick figures”, that’s just insane. “Stick Figures” are obviously by these skid marks own account NOT neutral as they CLEARLY are not inclusive of the chunky monkeys, and are reverse racist as they will surely be black figures. Which clearly excludes white, brown, red, yellow, crosseyed, LGBTQIA+ abcdefghijklmo, oops the p just ran down my leg…..
all building in the world are racist and must be torn down. they are built on a foundation of white cement.
all light bulbs on the planet are racist as they emit “soft white light”
all television sets on the planet are racist as they are “colored tv’s”
most paper used is racist, as it is white
math is racist, since black kids aren’t smart enough to learn it – per a black female “professor”, obviously brain dead
there is a rock….. yes A ROCK, that somehow is now deemed racist, though i can’t imagine how or why
and this idiotic list is seemingly endless, and so moronic as to be beyond hilarious anymore