• fubarx@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    2 months ago

    “Naming animals after racists, fascists and other controversial figures cause just as many headaches as those posed by plants, say scientists. Examples include a brown, eyeless beetle which has been named after Adolf Hitler. Nor is Anophthalmus hitleri alone. Many other species’ names recall individuals that offend, such as the moth Hypopta mussolinii.”

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    2 months ago

    Ugh. I can’t wait to hear the bitching about “woke” scientists and how you can’t even insult black people with plants these days.

  • notaviking@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    2 months ago

    The flower in the picture reminds me of a Erythrina lysistemon, whose name in Afrikaans, in my opinion, is very racist, translated would be like n*****tree. Luckily I am hearing from a lot more people, compared to when I grew up, starting to name this beautiful tree a different name, kanniedood, which translates to cannot-die.

    I love that we look at language and ask are there hurtful words, even if it was not meant, and trying to improve on it. Sounds similar in the IT industry awhile ago where they tried replacing terms like master and slave with alternatives like primary and secondary.