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Comment by recoiledsnake | Hacker News Reader

>Guys, this is not a dick-sucking contest. If you want to parse PE binaries, go right ahead. If Red Hat wants to deep-throat Microsoft, that's your issue.

I wonder what would've happened if he was addressing a female kernel developer. Would he have toned it down or would it have been the same? On one hand I like the straightforward talk without beating around the bush, but on another, taking it down a notch or two and getting the same idea across more diplomatically seems to be the better answer.

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I wonder what the reaction from the community would be. Probably not very good... which is bad since the meaning of those words, in this context, is clear. And it's not really offensive, although there are more polite forms of course.

You don't think it's offensive that sexual acts traditionally associated with women are considered inherently derogatory?

> "And it's not really offensive"

Wait, someone using crude, derogatory language to describe someone else is not offensive? Describing your opponent as wanting to deep-throat a competitor is merely impolite now?

How socially clueless are we around here?

I'm so very sick and tired of the apologists here. Our industry is known for prima donnas who are constantly at each others throats, with no semblance of civility whatsoever. We are the only industry I've ever seen where we take pride in being callous, insensitive, and deliberately terrible to each other.

All under the guise of "not playing by The Man's rules".

He wasn't describing anyone, just their actions. And it's perfectly clear what it means.

God yes, never use swear words around the little ladies. It makes them blush or cry.

Beating round the bush? Should hope not. Sexual violence if ever I've heard it...

I can't tell if you are serious or not, but "beating around the bush" refers to the practice of trying to scare birds out of bushes so that they can be shot by hunters.

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