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by JadeNB 1546 days ago
> In addition to pronouns, let's include emojis that we feel identify ourselves

I assume that was sarcastic, but why not? Do you have any right to choose the emoji to identify me? I mean, you surely have every right to editorialise with an emoji that you think reflects my behaviour, but, if you're going to quote me below a symbolic representation, then I think it's different. If one has to use an emoji to identify someone—and it's not at all clear to me that it's necessary—then, after all, we're talking about who has reached out; why not just ask them?

(For example, surely—right?—we can agree that it would be bad to say "a user from India gave this testimonial:", or whatever—unless the place of origin is relevant, and you actually know it. I don't see much difference between these two.)

2 comments

> Do you have any right to choose the emoji to identify me

If it's posted on my website, then yes. It might not be polite or advisable, but I absolutely have the right to misgender you as well.

Let's just take the emojis away if we all can't get along with them.
It certainly seems clear that renato_cassutt, who it is clear can taken constructive criticism and who has given very useful replies throughout the comments, meant no-one any harm; and neither I nor, I am sure, kranner meant to impute any ill intent. I can understand the appeal of pictorial representations of one's users; I was just, and I suspect that kranner was also, trying to mention the possible inadvertent offence that might result in this way, not to ruin anyone's fun but to save someone from an inadvertent misstep.
Thanks JadeNB. I'm pretty sure that renato_cassutt didn't mean any harm and that the testimonial is from a real user. The context that many are missing here is that a turban is religious headwear like a yarmulke. As a Sikh you have to be authorised to wear one in a ceremony called a "dastaarbandi", and there are rules of conduct while wearing one in public. It's inadvisable to add one to the depiction of a person unless they choose it themselves. This kind of thing (e.g. inappropriate Sikh representation in movies) regularly becomes a political issue in India. In renato_cassutt's case, it's an unnecessary distraction from the actual product.
I do very much agree that it's inadvisable to add a turban to depiction of person unless they choose themselves.

That being said, as an pedantic, unshorn hair, turban wearing Sikh I'm not sure I'd describe dastaarbandi as any sort of ceremony granting authorization.

Yes, that was overly loose wording on my part. I wanted to convey that there are rituals and formalisms around wearing turbans.