Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Please forward this email to the person/team who made the decision to remove the ethnicity filter from the app.
The purpose of my letter is to request the ethnicity filter be reinstated by presenting a viewpoint that perhaps wasn’t considered when the initial decision was taken to remove the filter.
My understanding of the rationale behind the removal of the ethnicity filter was a well intended act in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and racial equity in general. I applaud the position Grindr took as a corporate citizen, however despite the decision being well intended, I believe it to be flawed in what it achieves practically.
I am a paid member, which grants me the opportunity to view a larger number of profiles as well as filter groupings of profiles that don’t happen to be ones that I don’t happen to be sexually attracted to. For me, and I realize that there is the potential for others to use the filter differently, I use it so as to maximize the number of potential profiles that fall within the characteristics that I just happen to be attracted to. I don’t use it to remove those who I am offended/disgusted/racially biased towards etc. and again I realize that there are those people who do. As a result of the removal of the ethnicity filter, I am now scrolling through numbers of profiles that I wouldn’t normally see, nor would choose to message. However what are the other results that have been created due to removing the filter?
Besides scrolling through additional profiles that I am aware that I’m not attracted to, there are also profiles with which I’m not sure of their ethnicity. So what happens in those cases? Well if I message someone and they message me back (eventually) with a face picture of themselves and I’m not attracted to their ethnicity (and here I must defend myself because it is not a conscious biased choice anymore than is my dislike of broccoli. They are both just something I don’t have an attraction to but in no way does that mean I’m going to discriminate against broccoli or treat broccoli poorly or less than an ear of corn for example. I just don’t happen to have a taste for broccoli. In a grocery store I don’t go to the broccoli section, I filter it out, but with no malice to the broccoli it’s just not my thing). So getting back to receiving a picture from someone who I thought might have fallen into one ethnicity but was actually another and now I am put in the position to essentially reject them. (Fortunately given the fact that I’m not a revolting human being, I politely explain that sadly they are not my type, not going into detail of course, and I wish them good luck. But think of all the different ways that that could go wrong given a different person’s view of other groups of people. So then the recipient is subjected to vile behaviour for no other reason than being there ethnicity. Had the filter still been in place that person wouldn’t have a come across that other persons profile and the exchange never would have taken place thus sparing the recipient the sender’s vitriol.)
I also have a feeling that part of the rationale for the filter removal was that if all ethnicities are visible this will somehow temper peoples’ racism by way of exposure instead of using the filter and falling under the ‘out of sight out of mind’ mentality rendering them invisible ergo unimportant etc. but I would be hard-pressed to believe that. As if someone who holds the mentality that one ethnicity is somehow inferior to another, is somehow going to be swayed by seeing thumbnail body parts/profiles of these other ethnicities and suddenly have a revelation that makes them no longer racially biased/racist. Not happening.
So other than the symbolic gesture of removing the filter, what is the practical benefit of doing so, if there was one? Don’t get me wrong I think it’s a lovely gesture of solidarity but what is the lesson are you trying to impart to your users, and are they getting that message by doing so?
Sadly I don’t think so and all it’s really been achieved is other problems. Therefore I would ask that you put the ethnicity filter back into use please and Look for a better alternative for supporting ethnic and racial equality.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
A well-meaning and frustrated customer
PS And by no means am I equating any of the other characteristics that can be filtered on Grindr to the significance of ethnicity and racism given the current climate, but by removing the ethnicity filter it opens the door to a conversation regarding filters for weight, height, body type, and age. Just a thought :-)
PPS Please acknowledge reception of this email and I would appreciate a considered response from the person/team who took the decision to remove the filter. Thank you.