Seriously?

Denotatively, it's meaningless. Connotatively, it's turned into a pretty objectionable term, in my opinion.

Yes, seriously. It's just a word, like "sis" or "gal" or "the", and has no inherent negative or positive connotations.

Somebody has invented drama around this word, some other people have bought into it, and now more people are just trying to stir it up again because Hacker News has somehow gone a whole two days without senseless bickering.

> has no inherent negative or positive connotations.

That's not how 'connotation' works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connotation

There's no getting around it anymore. We have to accept the fact Bay Area startup culture has turned a term of endearment into a gendered slur.

So we grow a backbone and tread on, ignoring the people trying to manufacture scandal for their own entertainment or empowerment, or we let one city's subculture control the rights to the English language.

I choose the former.

That is, until you get fired from your job for thoughtcrime. Being politically correct and believing/saying the right things is required for employment in the tech industry now.

Nope. Still going to call my big bro bro, and my friend-bros bro. Most of them have never heard of this manufactured conflict.