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I think this article explains the situation at Google better than anywhere else: https://www.piratewires.com/p/google-culture-of-fear

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So according to that article, you're not allowed to use the word "ninja" at Google?

Is it because they assume Japanese people would find that offensive or what?

Personally I find the overuse of the word "Ninja" in tech cringe, same as the use of the word "Rockstar". But just because something is cringe, doesn't mean it's offensive.

No, that's cultural appropriation! There's a long list of things you apparently can't do or say at Google that all strike me as completely mundane things that normal humans engage in on a daily basis. It's been years since the James Damore debacle yet it still seems like the asylum is run by the inmates.

"Cultural appropriation" being defined loosely as "doing things while white", since those same people will also let you know that white people have no culture.

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