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0 pointskelnos6y ago0 comments

> He was just saying that the term "sexual assault" is inaccurate in that it implies violence.

Which is also incorrect. Sexual assault encompasses coercion without physical violence.

It is accurate to say that the girl was sexually assaulted; whether or not Minsky sexually assaulted her is up for debate.

I agree with the parent that it seems sketchy that Minsky (and the others present) didn't have at least some idea what was going on. At best, these girls could be prostitutes, but just assuming everything about the situation was completely legit is in my mind morally questionable.

Then there wass also a person present at the gathering who says Minsky turned the girl down. If she says that she had sex with him, I would tend to believe her, though.

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non-entity6y ago

> Which is also incorrect. Sexual assault encompasses coercion without physical violence.

I was actually reading Stallman's site last night, after seeing the article about him leaving CSAIL. I noticed he had a "glossary" section where he basically rejected the use of many common words and phrases, because their literal meaning did not match the colloquial or modern use (for example, he rejected the word homophobia, being pedantic about the phobia part). I'd bet this whole thing about "sexual assault" is along the same line.

kelnosOP6y ago

It probably is. Stallman is a pedant in the worst possible way: he rejects reality in favor of textbook perfection.

concordDance6y ago

Where the "reality" of language is a result of brutal culture wars that have given us very unnatural categories ("X means Y+Z except in very specific circumstances K where it means Y+W")?

In that case think its important for thinking clearly to develop your own definitions that group things together into categories where all members share important traits.

Frondo6y ago

Not even! He rejects common language where he has redefined the words, and he rejects specific jargon where it runs contrary to common language.

When he uses the tools of pedantry, he does so to try and change the goalposts of the conversation, not to provide greater clarity.

freetime26y ago

> It is accurate to say that the girl was sexually assaulted; whether or not Minsky sexually assaulted her is up for debate.

“whether or not Minsky sexually assaulted her” is precisely the thing that Stallman was debating, and got into trouble for.

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