I have been experiencing a crisis of conscience when it comes to my work the last few years.

I am a freelance content writer and I primarily write about web design and SEO. So I show designers how to create better websites and apps (i.e. ones that make more money) while also teaching people how to get ahead in Google search results.

Every year, the research on how much time we spend online leaves me feeling sick to my stomach. For instance, a 2021 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 31% of adults in the U.S. are constantly online.

I’m obviously not the only person who writes about apps and websites or how to design them. That said, there aren’t many of us out there. So I do feel guilty about my contribution to building a “better” web if what it’s going to result in is greater digital dependency and addiction. As well as more consumption of true misinformation and disinformation.

The problem is, I’ve spent 10 years establishing myself in this field. So it’s going to take awhile to extract myself from it. What I do next, I don’t know. For the time being, though, I gotta be more mindful of what I write.

Which brings me to DEI.

Saying “No” to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

I have been lucky enough to write for some great clients over the years — ones that don’t push a political agenda and who keep wokeness out of their business models and my writing. For the most part anyway. I have been asked to write about diverse imagery and inclusive design before, but I write about them from a practical perspective. Not a “White people are all evil and we need more mixed racial couples in photography” perspective.

On the rare occasion that I’m asked to write for companies that openly support the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) methodology, I always politely decline. I want no part in spreading that warped belief system nor will I allow my writing to be infected by their approved lexicon.

The reason I’m writing this today is because I just received a DEI Style Guide from my newest client.

Style guides are a necessity in my job because so many companies want you to handle grammar, wording, and tone of voice differently. But they usually provide guidance on things like how to structure the m-dash (—) or what to do with the Oxford comma.

I think the wokest style directive I’ve received to date is to not use gendered examples. So I couldn’t write something like, “John started his company in 2010”. It would have to be, “John started the company in 2010”.

That is no longer the case. This DEI style guide puts all semi-woke requests I’ve ever received to shame.

I’m not going to publish the whole thing here because it’s LONG. But I am going to share some of the highlights in case you’re wondering how insanely warped this ideology is.

DEI on Race

Instead of “minority”, say “minority ethnic group”.
Capitalize all racial and ethnic groups except for “white”.
Never call an ethnic group solely by their identifier. So instead of “Jews”, say “the Jewish people”.

DEI on Immigration

Instead of saying “alien”, “illegal immigrant”, or “unauthorized immigrant”, say “undocumented immigrant”.

DEI on Gender

Be as specific as possible when describing someone’s gender. So instead of “man”, say he’s a “cisgender man”.
Use anatomy-focused wording when writing about reproductive or sex-specific body parts. Instead of “most girls will have their first period by the age of 16”, say “most people with uteruses will have their first period by the age of 16”.
Change traditionally gendered jobs into gender neutral titles. For example: “postman” becomes “postal worker”, “fireman” becomes “firefighter”, and so on.
Don’t address groups of people by their gender. So say “Hey folks” instead of “Hey guys”.

DEI on Sexual Orientation

Never confuse sexual orientation for gender identity. Because people can be gender neutral and still be straight.
Use specific orientation labels to describe one’s sexual preference. For instance, don’t say that someone is a “LGBTQ person”. Say that they’re "a pansexual person”.
When referring to a group of people that aren’t straight, call them “LBGTQ people”.

DEI on Disability

Separate the person from their disability. So instead of saying “the paraplegic”, say “the person who has paraplegia”.
Don’t use words that suggest that a disability is a negative thing. For instance, don’t say that someone is “retarded”. Say that they are a “person with an intellectual impairment”.

DEI on Socioeconomics

Refer to homelessness and other socioeconomic struggles as a “national crisis” instead of blaming it on the individual who is destitute.
Avoid naming groups of individuals based on their economic status. For instance, “the poor”, “the elite”, and “the less fortunate” are all no-nos.

DEI Disallowed Words

blacklist
whitelist
master
warpath
brave
Gypsy
over the hill
naive
childish
geriatric
grandfathered
poverty-stricken
ghetto
the projects
inner city
urban
able-bodied
normal
impaired
defect
disabled
special needs
afflicted with
suffers from
mentally challenged
physically challenged
sexual preference
homosexuality
gay agenda
gay lifestyle
gay marriage
gay couple
transgenders
transgendered
sex change
pre-operative
post-operative
biologically male
biologically female

Final Thoughts

If anyone thinks they’re going to get me to change the way I write or speak — and, consequently, the way people think about what I say — they are sorely mistaken. That nonsense ain’t going to come out of this keyboard or mouth.

Being kind to others is one thing. Pandering to insane identity-driven ideologies is another.

So yeah, I’m losing a client in a time when I really can’t afford to lose clients. COVID really hurt my business and now inflation and the looming recession are chopping away at what remains of it.

But I refuse to work for someone who wants to warp the English language and the reality it’s based on. I’d rather become one of those people impacted by the “national crisis” than accept pay for something that will harm our society even further.

Against the Grain

Just Say "No" to DEI