Awkward wording in Ferris description

[Maxgy]

The explanation of Ferris in the Get Started page seems literarily awkward to me and others I've shown it to. The first section uses the word "which" three times in a row (this sounds awkward), for example, and that entire thought seems over explained and could be simplified to be more concise (this is a suggestion). I'm also not sure of the reason for the inclusion of "(they/them)" in the first part (possibly unnecessary?). The second explanation seems OK but could possibly be improved to be better worded.

[magnet]

Same thoughts.

[ashleygwilliams]

If you have an improvement to the wording, I would happily accept a PR or suggestions as comments in this issue! Thanks!

[magnet]

Simplified version (I guess people know crabs are crustaceans)

Who’s this crab, Ferris?
Ferris is the unofficial mascot of the Rust Community. Rust programmers sometimes call themselves "Rustaceans", a play on the word "crustacean".

Ferris is a name playing off of the adjective, "ferrous", meaning of or pertaining to iron. Since Rust often forms on iron, it seemed like a fun origin for our mascot’s name!

[ashleygwilliams]

i think maybe we can link to what a crustacean is? also i'd like to keep the pronouns (they/them) in there. its an important detail. if you want to make a PR with ur changes and my feedback i would happily accept that!

[ashleygwilliams]

i see a fair number of negative github reactions on my comment? are people able to elaborate? the inclusion of the pronouns is something that we like (and is just actually a question people ask about Ferris a lot)- is the pronoun portion something folks are not happy about?

[ashleygwilliams]

(or perhaps the negative feedback is asking for a PR? i'm also very happy to make the PR if folks don't want to.)

[Maxgy]

@ashleygwilliams I can make the PR in a bit. Also, could you elaborate on the reason for including "(they/them)?

[ashleygwilliams]

i think it's nice to include because 1) people often assume that Ferris is a boy and use (he/him), but Ferris is non binary, 2) to quietly signal that pronouns are something the Rust community cares about and that this is a space that is welcoming to folks who have identities like that!

[magnet]

@ashleygwilliams As far as I know gender pronouns such as these are mostly used in America, which feels a bit weird on a website targeting an international audience. I am very happy the Rust community is welcoming to everyone, I just feel it is unnecessary to give a gender to a PL mascot. I've personally never assumed any specific gender for Duke. It's maybe a cultural thing, but we don't really attribute a gender to animals or cartoon characters from my part of the world (that is, unless they explicitly do themselves like Mickey Mouse!) :)

[8573]

I'd like to suggest that the language specifying the personal pronouns be more explicit, such as a sentence “We refer to Ferris with the pronouns "they", "them", etc., rather than with gendered pronouns.” at the end of the section, because I easily can imagine someone who isn't already familiar with seeing personal pronouns specified like "Ferris (they/them)" having no idea what "they/them" in parentheses is intended to mean (maybe especially if they're less familiar with English).

[ashleygwilliams]

That’s an awesome suggestion @8573! I really love that ❤️