Stanford University Releases 'Harmful Language' List, Bans Words Like 'American,' 'Brave'

A recent attempt by Stanford University, California, to propagate inclusive language has angered many users online. People are poking fun at the institution¡¯s new ¡°harmful language¡± list. The new and improved list has raised many questions as it had supposedly listed words like ¡°American,¡± ¡°brave,¡± and ¡°addicted¡± in it.

Stanford Releases Controversial 'Harmful Language' List

The initiative grew out of the Stanford CIO Council and People of Color in Technology. While many phrases added to the list did have an oppressive and discriminatory past rooted in history, some words folks online deemed appalling to have been added to the list.

The university¡¯s independent newspaper reported, ¡°Ostensibly, the goal is to make people of color and other perceived victims of historical injustice more comfortable as users of Stanford technology,¡± as they put the newly banned words in bold. The report continued, ¡°A cursory review of the page, however, should be shocking to any normal person for its sheer insanity.¡±

The newspaper also noted how the university had locked the list after people started giving the glossary a bad review. As per The Daily Beast, the list has been divided into ten categories, ¡°ableist, ageism, colonialism, culturally appropriative, gender-based, imprecise language, institutionalized racism, person-first, violent, and additional considerations.¡±

After The List Was Issued, Folks Online Were Baffled By Its Logic

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While some of the terms banned on the university¡¯s websites do have oppressive backgrounds and did not face much of a backlash on being banned. Words like ¡°Hispanic¡± and ¡°Latinx¡± though other words and phrases were banned were a totally different story. These were words like abort, killing two birds with one stone, immigrant, and war room.

The university¡¯s vice president of external communication, Dee Mostofi addressed the uproar and said, ¡°In this case, the EHLI website was specifically created by and intended for use within the university IT community.¡± She continued, ¡°It will continue to be refined based on ongoing input from the community.¡±

People online were baffled by some of the additions to the list. Even Elon Musk joined in and commented, ¡°This has gone too far, to say the least! @Stanford, what is your explanation for this madness?¡±

Check out other online reactions to the Stanford list:

This has gone too far, to say the least! @Stanford, what is your explanation for this madness?

¡ª Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 20, 2022

Wait SPOOK isn¡¯t on the Stanford list of words we can¡¯t say? ?

¡ª Serengaslite (@serengaslite_) December 23, 2022

There is just one word on this list that is offensive;- Stanford

¡ª Stan Callaghan (@stan_callaghan) December 23, 2022

I do not for one second believe the Stanford word list is real. Not worth engaging with right wingers on this. It¡¯s either made up or a joke.

¡ª Cancel Culture Machine Operator (@kieth_stan) December 23, 2022

Some of the suggestive corrections in language looked like this on the infamous list-

Stanford University

Stanford University

Stanford University

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