Omnibus Addenda, Volume 6

I would like to thank you both for this excellent and respectful discussion. I learned something from both parties. Thumbs up!

"Please disregard media style guides, even ones published by organizations like GLAAD, in favor of rules provided by me, a VERY good ally on this issue." In your eagerness to demonstrate your grasp of a polite and sensible social custom ("Don't deadname trans people!"), you have misapplied it in this instance. But that's okay! There are worse things than overzealousness in a good cause. This is no different than saying that "Muhammad Ali, then still boxing as Cassius Clay, won a gold medal in Rome." It's disrespectful to pointedly or repeatedly call him "Cassius," as some opponents and sportscasters did after he converted to Islam. A single mention of his birth name, to clarify a point of fact ("Muhammad Ali" did not box in the 1960 Olympics, according to the official records) can be helpful for listeners who don't know Ali's full story. The same is true for Caitlyn Jenner. We're leaving this comment thread intact because it's an interesting back-and-forth on this issue, but I think the show's position is pretty clear at this point, and the topic is closed.

Omnibus Project

I understand your point about clarity. That’s important, but I don’t think there was lack of clarity in this instance that warranted deadnaming. I know that’s open to interpretation. I strongly question the wisdom of using press or style guides, especially ones most likely created by cisgender people, to direct one’s treatment of the transgender community. To be a good ally, I’m going to listen to the oppressed group and respect their wishes, which includes using preferred pronouns and names. If listeners were confused, they could look it up or write in with their questions. I often don’t get your references to certain people because I’m in a different generation, so I look stuff up when needed. Your intent is good. I appreciate how you both are so respectful of people experiencing discrimination. But good intent can cause harm regardless. It does for my transgender and non-binary friends. That’s why I’m speaking up - because they have expressed the pain and disrespect they feel around this issue. Perhaps Caitlyn is okay with people referring to her birth name, but many others in her shoes are not. I look forward to future shows and addenda. =)

Crystal Tabony

You are welcome to your own sensitivities, but press stylebooks (BBC, NY Times, etc.) correctly allow for some leeway when the deadname is "newsworthy or pertinent." I imagine that if we discussed Caitlyn Jenner in the context of the 1976 decathlon, we said something like "...then known as Bruce Jenner" or "who was competing as 'Bruce Jenner' at the time," which is absolutely okay for clarity.

Omnibus Project

Please don’t deadname transgender people. We should refer to Caitlyn Jenner with only her current name. If you need to discuss her pre-transition, then use that phrase.

Crystal Tabony

"Ohio and Iowa are two different states. The Buckeye stops here."

THANK YOU, this was driving me crazy.

Omnibus Project

It was great! And BTW, the story you were trying to remember about getting chits when a country was out of coinage was my story about Zimbabweans using US currency in Addenda #4.

This is absolutely the best addenda so far. Literally turned into an ASMR podcast halfway through.