Uncle Ben’s Rice changes name to avoid racism claims

[Crystalpall]

I don’t really have an opinion about this.

I do however have an opinion about this:

The idea of uniqueness is now shrouded in a veil of racism thrust upon many of those that did not participate in it in the first place.
This isn’t a win for anyone, but the loss of a freedom.

I think that the brand being able to change their name as they please is the definition of freedom.

 

[hom]

lol

holy shit yall calm down. Some shitty food company changed their branding to chase sales in a world of Woke Capital and yall are treating it like the huns are at the gates and your empire is crumbling.

I mean, the empire is crumbling. But not because of instant rice branding.

Sure it's just some instant rice company re-branding but it's also outrage culture growing stronger, each company that bends to its will adds a name to their list they can shove in the faces of other people, companies, policies, scholars, governments to influence and pressure them into further changes.

Outrage culture and trial by social media is such an ugly byproduct of a constantly connected global world where nobody is held accountable for their actions or what they say.

 

[Chops]

Sure it's just some instant rice company re-branding but it's also outrage culture growing stronger, each company that bends to its will adds a name to their list they can shove in the faces of other people, companies, policies, scholars, governments to influence and pressure them into further changes.

Outrage culture and trial by social media is such an ugly byproduct of a constantly connected global world where nobody is held accountable for their actions or what they say.

But there was no campaign. Like, people mentioned it but we moved from worrying about brands to burning police stations in like a week. Nobody is looking back and going "hell yea, we got uncle ben!"

Legit, nobody cares but the people who make money telling you that this is some great threat to freedom or "cancel culture" or whatever. And I guess it would be if the entire scope of your understanding of freedom is as a consumer but on the grand scale, brand logos are pretty small peanuts.

 

[Blackberryy]

I don’t really have an opinion about this.

I do however have an opinion about this:


I think that the brand being able to change their name as they please is the definition of freedom.

The loss of freedom is that they were bullied into the change

 

[hom]

But there was no campaign. Like, people mentioned it but we moved from worrying about brands to burning police stations in like a week. Nobody is looking back and going "hell yea, we got uncle ben!"

Legit, nobody cares but the people who make money telling you that this is some great threat to freedom or "cancel culture" or whatever. And I guess it would be if the entire scope of your understanding of freedom is as a consumer but on the grand scale, brand logos are pretty small peanuts.

it's all a branch off of outrage culture. The loud and few that whip up a storm online and demand unnecessary changes. It's small peanuts when it's a company logo, but not when it impacts legislation (read Canadian Pronoun Law). That is a legitimate threat to freedom.

 

[Chops]

but not when it impacts legislation (read Canadian Pronoun Law). That is a legitimate threat to freedom.

Cant say Im super familiar with canadas laws but I would imagine that requiring institutions to correctly recognize someones gender might lessen their freedom to be assholes while increasing someone elses freedom from being discriminated against.

Freedom cant entirely be understood in a "freedom to" but must also be understood as "freedom from". The entire point of laws and society is to navigate the various intersections of freedoms. Famously, you have the freedom to swing your arms about and I have a freedom from being assaulted. So we designed laws around that. Necessarily, freedoms are reduced or outright eliminated as part of being a member in any society.

There's no threat to freedom here. And if you see that pronoun law as a threat to freedom, I'd suggest you learn to understand freedoms beyond "hurrdurr I wanna be an asshole without consequences"

 

[hom]

There's no threat to freedom here. And if you see that pronoun law as a threat to freedom, I'd suggest you learn to understand freedoms beyond "hurrdurr I wanna be an asshole without consequences"

The bill quite literally infringes on your freedom of expression.
It's not about "hurrdurr I wanna be an asshole without consequences", it's about ones right to be offended and ones right to expression - verbal only.
It's a slippery slope when legislation impacts your free speech because you may or may not offend someone. At what point does being offended warrant legislation if everyone is offended by everything?

I strongly urge you to watch this, not only is Rowan Atkinson just a great guy but he makes some very compelling and crucial points in the preservation of free speech.

 

[Chops]

The bill quite literally infringes on your freedom of expression.

if you're referring to bill C-16 (i looked it up) it doesnt appear that thats the case at all. Private citizens are still free to be bigoted assholes without penalty. It just makes gender identity protected under discrimination law. Doesnt look like its about offense at all, but rather about ensuring that everyone has access to the same services.

This is an *expansion* of freedom by expanding trans peoples freedom from discrimination.

Looks like youre getting caught up in that internet outrage you're so worried about that tells you every action (like a brand rename or some boiler plate legislation) is an affront to your freedoms.

 

[Donor]

ben is a weird name
tom sound nicer

 

[Slippypuddle]

 

[hom]

if you're referring to bill C-16 (i looked it up) it doesnt appear that thats the case at all. Private citizens are still free to be bigoted assholes without penalty. It just makes gender identity protected under discrimination law. Doesnt look like its about offense at all, but rather about ensuring that everyone has access to the same services.

This is an *expansion* of freedom by expanding trans peoples freedom from discrimination.

Looks like youre getting caught up in that internet outrage you're so worried about that tells you every action (like a brand rename or some boiler plate legislation) is an affront to your freedoms.

Their freedoms were already protected in their human rights laws by prohibiting discrimination because of an individuals sexual orientation.

Any law that can get you indicted for your use of language only is dangerous. Those in the USA are protected by the first ammendment right from this kid of law being made.

If you repeatedly refused to call someone by their preferred pronoun in Canada you could be taken to court if its deemed discriminatory.

If that's not an infringement on your free speech I don't know what you think would be.

Everyone should have the equal right to be offended and offend. Overlooking and legislating that right only breaks down valuable discourse and opens the gates for further similar bills to be instated.

 

[Chops]

If you repeatedly refused to call someone by their preferred pronoun in Canada you could be taken to court if its deemed discriminatory.

thats not how the law is worded or how its enforced.

Those in the USA are protected by the first ammendment right from this kid of law being made.

youd be shocked to learn about hate speech laws in america

Everyone should have the equal right to be offended and offend. Overlooking and legislating that right only breaks down valuable discourse

offending people and being offended arent "valuable discourse" but you're just continuing to make my point that you only seem to be able to process the concept of "freedoms" in the framework of your freedom to be an asshole.

 

[Cleatuss]

selling the name cucknorris on BH for a bag of uncle bens rice

 

[hom]

thats not how the law is worded or how its enforced.

youd be shocked to learn about hate speech laws in america

offending people and being offended arent "valuable discourse" but you're just continuing to make my point that you only seem to be able to process the concept of "freedoms" in the framework of your freedom to be an asshole.

Yes you have absolutely every right to be an asshole. There should never be a law that prevents you from being an asshole as far as free speech is concerned.

Hate speech laws in USA arent enforced or regulated at all because of your first ammendment right...?

The bill summary states:
"The bill is intended to protect individuals from discrimination within the sphere of federal jurisdiction and from being the targets of hate propaganda, as a consequence of their gender identity or their gender expression."

So if someone considered them self a Hiz instead of a him, you must call them by that pronoun. If you continue to igonore that request, which you should have every right to do so, albeit it might make you an asshole, the bill considers this a breach of your human rights.

Offending and being offended are proponents to valuable discourse because one could be offended by everything and prevent any discourse at all!

 

[Selaya]

shit thread.

 

[Druiddroid]

The loss of freedom is that they were bullied into the change

Given the level of emotions in this thread, I'd say they are making bank off of the change and not minding the loss of freedom

 

[Chops]

The bill is intended to protect individuals from discrimination within the sphere of federal jurisdiction and from being the targets of hate propaganda

Im getting to the point where I'm done talking to you because you seem to not understand how speech and laws work.

This law, as written, does not at all create the situation you say it does. Individually being an asshole is not federal discrimination or hate speech. Is the canadian government sweeping in and arresting private citizens for ignoring pronouns? Or are you just one of these dumbasses that thinks Jordan Peterson got a raw deal?

The loss of freedom is that they were bullied into the change

nobody bullied them into doing anything lol. They just saw a chance to generate some goodwill and free publicity