[McKenwood]

I think there is a spectrum of terms in there, from those that are clearly offensive, to those that are in common use but, reading more about them have a really offensive origin, and I appreciate learning the etymology and will consequently strive to avoid.  On the far end, though, there are some terms in there that clearly invite the reaction that they are getting in this thread.  For example, generic "people of color" is a term that is supposed to be avoided, yet the list had input from a group called "People of Color in IT", and while there are some terms that people can self-identify with that out groups probably shouldn't use, there is such a thing as going overboard.

The list implicitly acknowledges that there might be different levels of "harm" to different terms.  I think the problem with a list like this is that it lumps in nearly trivial examples (for example, "whitespace", which I've never seen linked to any sort of value good or bad, and I've always assumed just refers to empty space on a piece of white paper), with some fairly offensive terms (like, I wouldn't use "tarbaby" or "Indian Giver", and I didn't need that list to tell me that).  When everything is offensive, nothing is.

BC

Well said BC.  "When everything is offensive, nothing is."  No allowance for nuance with this list.

[McKenwood]

I think there is a spectrum of terms in there, from those that are clearly offensive, to those that are in common use but, reading more about them have a really offensive origin, and I appreciate learning the etymology and will consequently strive to avoid.  On the far end, though, there are some terms in there that clearly invite the reaction that they are getting in this thread.  For example, generic "people of color" is a term that is supposed to be avoided, yet the list had input from a group called "People of Color in IT", and while there are some terms that people can self-identify with that out groups probably shouldn't use, there is such a thing as going overboard.

The list implicitly acknowledges that there might be different levels of "harm" to different terms.  I think the problem with a list like this is that it lumps in nearly trivial examples (for example, "whitespace", which I've never seen linked to any sort of value good or bad, and I've always assumed just refers to empty space on a piece of white paper), with some fairly offensive terms (like, I wouldn't use "tarbaby" or "Indian Giver", and I didn't need that list to tell me that).  When everything is offensive, nothing is.

BC

Well said BC.  "When everything is offensive, nothing is."  No allowance for nuance with this list.