Paul Cantrell
It seems some people are bristling at this remark because they wrongly take it to mean “if you use this phrase, then you are racist.“
That’s not what “racially coded” means here.
It means that the phrase is going to conjure up racial associations for some/many listeners •regardless of the speaker’s intent•, and that’s a thing to be aware of when hearing or using the phrase.
https://hachyderm.io/@inthehands/112763060511361803
Paul Cantrell
Yes, people are casting votes without having much good information about the election, and yes, “low information voter” is a useful phrase for that.
But when a Black person tells me that phrase has a racial coding — something I’m likely not to perceive myself — then that’s evidence enough to cue me to be careful how I use the phrase.
Paul Cantrell
If I •do• use the phrase, I’ll try to make sure to actively push back against hidden racial associations people make. That might mean, for example, •explicitly• stating that “low information voter” includes white people.
That there is (as I understand it, we’re all learning here) the difference between being “not a racist” and being actively •anti-racist•
Paul Cantrell
I sure hear this from @donw. Same.
Part of the power of these hidden language codings and implicit associations is the multiplier effect they create. Someone who does not personally carry a racial association about the phrase they’re using can unwittingly amplify a racist idea. Thus •anti•-racism instead of just “non-racism.” We have to actively push back against forces larger than us and our personal beliefs.
https://mastodon.coffee/@donw/112763207851035826
Paul Cantrell
I highly appreciate @JessTheUnstill bringing voter suppression into the chat. Even though that’s a distinct topic, it’s always one worth shouting from the rooftops at the slightest excuse:
https://infosec.exchange/@JessTheUnstill/112763317457658335
Paul Cantrell
@fishidwardrobe
Yes, exactly, that is indeed the point of the thread.
Fish Id Wardrobe
@inthehands Not what *I* meant, to be clear: I meant that I can well believe that a racist would assign the phrase to black people -- but using it does not make you racist, because you might (not being racist) assign the phrase to some other group...
Paul Cantrell
@cian
I don’t think you fully digested the thread.
Please check the second paragraph of the post you are replying to, and see also the remarks downthread about multiplier effect.
“That’s not what I think it means” does not provide data about what other people think it means.
Cian O'Connor
@inthehands
It's never been racially coded, and black people are statistically the group least likely to belong to it.
It means voters who don't care about policies/politics, and choose candidates based upon who is most likable, presidential, good looking, etc.
Even when it is used as code, it's used to refer to 'dumb poor white people who vote for Republicans'.
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