From 1bc749ed519132a4874eb00fd2e5ea627d742755 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: stuckvgn Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:35:58 +0530 Subject: [PATCH] feat: add speciesist language rules as community example --- examples/speciesist-language.yaml | 529 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 529 insertions(+) create mode 100644 examples/speciesist-language.yaml diff --git a/examples/speciesist-language.yaml b/examples/speciesist-language.yaml new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f8fdde53 --- /dev/null +++ b/examples/speciesist-language.yaml @@ -0,0 +1,529 @@ +# Speciesist Language Rules for woke +# +# Community-contributed ruleset for detecting speciesist language patterns. +# These rules identify phrases that normalize violence toward animals, +# infrastructure metaphors with animal exploitation origins, and +# animal-as-object terminology. +# +# Usage: +# Copy these rules into your .woke.yaml, or run woke with: +# $ woke -c examples/speciesist-language.yaml +# +# You can also use this as a remote config: +# $ woke -c https://raw.githubusercontent.com/get-woke/woke/main/examples/speciesist-language.yaml +# +# To exclude these rules, add to your .woke.yaml: +# exclude_categories: +# - speciesism +# +# References: +# - Hagendorff, Bossert, Tse & Singer (2023). "Speciesist bias in AI." AI and Ethics. +# https://doi.org/10.1007/s43681-023-00380-w +# - Takeshita et al. (2022). "Speciesist language and nonhuman animal bias in +# English masked language models." Information Processing & Management. +# - Leach et al. (2023). "Speciesism in everyday language." British Journal of +# Social Psychology. + +rules: + # === Violent Animal Idioms === + # Phrases that normalize violence toward animals, with clearer professional alternatives. + + - name: kill-two-birds + terms: + - kill two birds with one stone + - killing two birds with one stone + - killed two birds with one stone + alternatives: + - accomplish two things at once + - solve two problems at once + - get two things done at once + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase normalizes violence toward birds. The alternative is equally + expressive and more professional. + (source: Takeshita et al., 2022, Information Processing & Management) + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: beat-dead-horse + terms: + - beat a dead horse + - beating a dead horse + alternatives: + - belabor the point + - go over old ground + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase trivializes violence toward horses. The alternatives convey + the same meaning without referencing animal harm. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: bring-home-bacon + terms: + - bring home the bacon + - bringing home the bacon + - brought home the bacon + - brings home the bacon + alternatives: + - bring home the results + - earn a living + - win the prize + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase references animal slaughter. The alternatives convey the same + meaning without referencing animal products. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: guinea-pig + terms: + - be the guinea pig + - being the guinea pig + - guinea pig + - guinea pigged + - guinea pigging + alternatives: + - test subject + - beta tester + - first to try + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase references animal experimentation. The alternatives are more + precise and don't normalize using animals as test subjects. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: skin-a-cat + terms: + - more than one way to skin a cat + - many ways to skin a cat + - other ways to skin a cat + alternatives: + - more than one way to solve this + - many ways to approach this + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase depicts graphic violence toward cats. The alternatives are + clearer and more professional. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: let-cat-out-of-bag + terms: + - let the cat out of the bag + - letting the cat out of the bag + alternatives: + - reveal the secret + - spill the beans + - disclose the information + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase originates from the practice of selling piglets in bags and + substituting cats. The alternatives are clearer in professional contexts. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: open-can-of-worms + terms: + - open a can of worms + - opening a can of worms + - opened a can of worms + alternatives: + - open a Pandora's box + - create a complicated situation + - raise a difficult issue + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase references using live animals as fishing bait. The alternatives + convey the same meaning more precisely. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: wild-goose-chase + terms: + - wild goose chase + - wild-goose chase + alternatives: + - futile search + - pointless pursuit + - fool's errand + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase references the historical practice of chasing wild geese. + The alternatives are more precise descriptions of the concept. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: flog-dead-horse + terms: + - flog a dead horse + - flogging a dead horse + alternatives: + - belabor the point + - waste effort on a lost cause + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase depicts violence toward horses. The alternatives convey the + same meaning without referencing animal harm. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: hold-your-horses + terms: + - hold your horses + alternatives: + - hold on + - wait a moment + - be patient + severity: info + note: >- + This phrase references controlling animals. The alternatives convey the + same meaning more directly. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: take-bull-by-horns + terms: + - take the bull by the horns + - taking the bull by the horns + - took the bull by the horns + alternatives: + - face the challenge head-on + - tackle the problem directly + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase references bullfighting. The alternatives convey the same + assertiveness without referencing animal exploitation. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: elephant-in-room + terms: + - elephant in the room + alternatives: + - obvious issue + - unaddressed problem + - obvious problem no one is discussing + severity: info + note: >- + This phrase references captive elephants as spectacle. The alternatives + are more direct descriptions of the concept. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: rat-race + terms: + - rat race + alternatives: + - competitive grind + - relentless routine + - daily grind + severity: info + note: >- + This phrase references laboratory animal experiments. The alternatives + convey the same meaning without referencing animal exploitation. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: dog-eat-dog + terms: + - dog-eat-dog + - dog eat dog + alternatives: + - ruthlessly competitive + - cutthroat + - fiercely competitive + severity: info + note: >- + This phrase characterizes animals as violent. The alternatives convey + the same meaning more precisely. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: like-shooting-fish + terms: + - like shooting fish in a barrel + alternatives: + - like taking candy from a baby + - extremely easy + - effortless + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase depicts gratuitous violence toward fish. The alternatives + convey the same meaning without referencing animal harm. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: red-herring + terms: + - red herring + alternatives: + - distraction + - false lead + - misleading clue + severity: info + note: >- + This phrase references the use of smoked fish to mislead hunting dogs. + The alternatives are more direct descriptions of the concept. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: fly-on-the-wall + terms: + - fly on the wall + alternatives: + - silent observer + - unnoticed onlooker + severity: info + note: >- + Consider using a more direct description. The alternatives are clearer + in professional contexts. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: sacred-cow + terms: + - sacred cow + - sacred cows + alternatives: + - untouchable topic + - unquestioned belief + - protected idea + severity: warning + note: >- + This phrase is both speciesist and culturally insensitive, trivializing + Hindu religious practices while objectifying cattle. The alternatives + convey the same meaning more precisely and respectfully. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: scapegoat + terms: + - scapegoat + - scapegoated + - scapegoating + alternatives: + - fall guy + - blamed unfairly + - wrongly blamed + severity: info + note: >- + This term originates from the ritual sacrifice of goats. The alternatives + convey the same meaning without referencing animal harm. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: straight-from-horses-mouth + terms: + - straight from the horse's mouth + - from the horse's mouth + alternatives: + - from a reliable source + - directly from the source + - on good authority + severity: info + note: >- + This phrase references examining horses' teeth to determine age for sale. + The alternatives are more precise in professional contexts. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: whack-a-mole + terms: + - whack-a-mole + - whack a mole + alternatives: + - endless loop + - recurring problem + - unwinnable game + severity: info + note: >- + This phrase references a game based on hitting animals. The alternatives + more precisely describe the pattern being referenced. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + # === Infrastructure Metaphors with Animal Exploitation Origins === + + - name: cattle-vs-pets + terms: + - cattle vs. pets + - cattle vs pets + - cattle versus pets + - cattle not pets + - treat servers like cattle + - servers are cattle + - treat them like cattle + alternatives: + - ephemeral vs. persistent + - fungible vs. unique + - disposable vs. maintained + severity: warning + note: >- + The cattle/pets metaphor normalizes treating sentient beings as disposable + commodities. The terms 'ephemeral' and 'persistent' more precisely describe + the infrastructure management concept. Kubernetes and CNCF founded the + Inclusive Naming Initiative in 2020 for similar terminology improvements. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: canary-deployment + terms: + - canary deployment + - canary release + - canary test + - canary testing + alternatives: + - progressive rollout + - incremental deployment + - staged release + severity: info + note: >- + This term references using canaries in coal mines as expendable early + warning systems. The alternatives more precisely describe modern deployment + practices. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: canary-value + terms: + - stack canary + - canary value + - canary word + alternatives: + - sentinel value + - guard value + - stack sentinel + severity: info + note: >- + This term references using canaries in coal mines as expendable early + warning systems. 'Sentinel value' and 'guard value' are already used in + related security contexts. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: monkey-patch + terms: + - monkey patch + - monkey-patch + - monkeypatch + - monkey patching + - monkey-patching + - monkeypatching + alternatives: + - runtime patch + - dynamic patch + - hot patch + severity: info + note: >- + Consider using more descriptive technical terminology. 'Runtime patch' + and 'dynamic patch' more precisely describe the technique. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: duck-typing + terms: + - duck typing + - duck-typing + - duck typed + - duck-typed + alternatives: + - structural typing + - implicit typing + - protocol-based typing + severity: info + note: >- + 'Structural typing' is the formal computer science term for this concept + and more precisely describes the mechanism. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: rubber-duck + terms: + - rubber duck debugging + - rubber ducking + - rubber duck method + alternatives: + - talk-through debugging + - explain-aloud debugging + - narrated debugging + severity: info + note: >- + Consider using a more descriptive term. 'Talk-through debugging' more + precisely describes the technique. + options: + word_boundary: false + categories: + - speciesism + + - name: dogfooding + terms: + - dogfood + - dogfooding + - eating your own dogfood + - eat your own dogfood + alternatives: + - self-hosting + - self-testing + - using your own product + severity: info + note: >- + 'Self-hosting' and 'self-testing' more precisely describe the practice + of using your own product internally. + options: + word_boundary: true + categories: + - speciesism