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why is it frowned upon to describe a person according to appearance and ethnic background? (linux.community)

submitted 5 days ago by vestmoria@linux.community to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

23 comments fedilink hide all child comments

On an email with my manager I described a coworker I only worked with once as a small, thin woman that was either born in an East Asian country or has East Asian parents. I don't know this person's name. I don't see a better way to describe her all things considered.

The managers answer: it is disrespectful to describe people according to ethnic background or physical appearance.

My next question for this manager: dear manager, how should I describe this person then?

I don't know if I'm being genuinely disrespectful or this is a very thin skinned manager. Either way, I had to work with another coworker I didn't know either. This conversation with manager B ensued:

manager B: 'today you're working with mike'

me: 'who's mike?'

manager B: 'that fat guy'

make it make sense.

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[–] Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Send them a link to a game of guess who and ask them how you are supposed to figure out the coworker without using descriptive words.

If they want to hard make your boss describe them to you instead of you describing them so it is their problem not yours

You: hey boss I worked with a person do you know who I'm talking about?

Boss: there are three people here.

You: tell me about them so I can tell you who it was.