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A comment on Lyft’s algorithm is trying to block people with names like ‘Dick’ and ‘Cummings’. Parent comment

Re:Lyft’s algorithm is trying to block people with names lik... by reaperducer on Saturday January 11, 2020 @04:24PM (#22022420)
A word is just a word and whenever it insults somebody it's their own problem.

There was a study linked to on HN a couple of years ago that found that babies recognize swear words even before they have language skills, and that people can sometimes recognize swear words in languages they don't speak. It has to do with the tone and sharpness of the sounds.

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Re:Lyft’s algorithm is trying to block people with names lik... by qwerty456127 on Saturday January 11, 2020 @04:52PM (#22022592)
Does this mean a baby, whose father's name is Dick would feel bad and/or get mentally traumatized?
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Re:Lyft’s algorithm is trying to block people with names lik... by lostlogin on Saturday January 11, 2020 @05:13PM (#22022724)
> It has to do with the tone and sharpness of the sounds.
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Re:Lyft’s algorithm is trying to block people with names lik... by michaelmrose on Sunday January 12, 2020 @01:13PM (#22027911)
Babies are recognizing the act of swearing at someone rather than the particular word being spoken.

The baby wouldn't experience the father's name as a swear word unless the conversation was for example about the dicks new girlfriend and his wife's assessment of the matter.

Dick vs DIIIIIIICK

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Re:Lyft’s algorithm is trying to block people with names lik... by afandian on Saturday January 11, 2020 @05:42PM (#22022893)
Precisely the opposite.
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