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xzjisyesterday at 2:48 PM6 repliesview on HN

Drip has a paradoxical flaw: by trying to be extremely inclusive and making a "gender-neutral" app (without the colour pink) to include trans people, it discourages some people from using it. At least, my friend told me she thought the design was ugly and was looking for a "cute" app, so she ended up using Flo instead of Drip despite my many warnings.

I think FLOSS apps often forget that not everyone is a developer or a nerd who prioritizes privacy and ethics over design, which is a real problem since people end up using proprietary apps that data-mine them.


Replies

basilikumyesterday at 9:23 PM

I don't quite understand your point. Is Drip non-pink to include trans men? That sounds really far fetched to me. And your friend found it ugly because it's not pink? Design is obviously subjectivity and perhaps your friend prefers the color pink, but has any of this actually anything to do with trans people and inclusiveness?

What's your reasoning for the conclusion of the app looking the way it does due to this and not due to the developer just subjectively preferring this design?

Hendriktoyesterday at 3:16 PM

Regardless of your opinion on gender and identity politics, surely people can agree that only biological women have periods.

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embedding-shapeyesterday at 2:58 PM

That sounds not so much as a flaw, as a conscious product decision. And to be honest, doesn't sound like a bad one, not every app needs to work or look the same way, as long as people have choices, they can be responsible for the choices they make. If someone wants a safer but boring app or if someone wants a cute "who gives a fuck about privacy" app, both should be fine.

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mghackerladyyesterday at 3:18 PM

I think this could easily be fixed by allowing themes of some kind

frameworkeGPUyesterday at 6:15 PM

took me a while to figure out what you were even responding to:

> Not another cute, pink app. drip. is designed with gender inclusivity in mindful

so a FOSS community should bimboify their app because your friend wants her data pinkwashed more than she wants her data safe? sounds like a her problem but she could always fork herself

archagonyesterday at 6:59 PM

I seriously doubt that the vast majority of women would avoid using a period tracking app just because it's not pink and stereotypically girly. Frankly, I find the notion vaguely offensive.

iOS/watchOS has had period tracking functionality with completely sterile design and people use it just fine.