4 ms·

I agree. First, in the context of computers and humans, or computers/systems and other computers/systems, the master/slave terminology is the most accurate. So

by mercer 11y ago

I agree. First, in the context of computers and humans, or computers/systems and other computers/systems, the master/slave terminology is the most accurate. So then the only real issue left is whether on a social/psychological level the words can cause pain. If someone is bothered by it, because they are bothered by it, then it's up for discussion and change. I also doubt that anyone is actually upset by the use of master/slave in these contexts. So what's left is 1) people who for whatever reason find it necessary to get upset on behalf of a hypothetical other, which leads us toward lots of pointless drama, and 2) people who cannot distinguish symbols from their meaning. A very similar issue that also seems to be particularly American (although I'm not sure) is 'forbidding' or 'taboo' words. In my culture (Holland) we don't have any words that even remotely carry the weight that a term like 'cunt' carries (I cringe even as I write it, because, well, American culture is big in Holland too). Sure, we have rude words. And using some of them offend people. And we have our practices that are being discussed and rightfully so. But we have no words that are so bad that even neutral usage is socially punished. And that strikes me as very sensible. The more weight you give something, the more power it has, and the more it can be abused by various parties. Instead, consider how the word 'gay' has been, to a degree, actively defanged and as result lessened in negative power. What bothers me the most is that I cannot help but feel that very real issues are sometimes coopted by people who just want to be righteous about things and pick fights. To me, that's almost worse than accidentally using offensive language, and definitely worse than doing nothing at all. And then what bothers me is that I write this with the greatest trepidation, because the previous paragraph itself could be coopted and reinterpreted in various ways to prove that I'm a terrible person... Can't we all just take a breath and remember Vonnegut's words: "There's only one rule that I know of, babies - God damn it, you've got to be kind." Can't we be kind and try to work on these issues?

ricksplat 11y ago
Well that's just it .. I don't agree that master/slave is the most accurate terminology, in many of the places that it is used. It's a term that has emerged quite innocently from a particular cultural orientation. I don't think it's the most accurate term because in many cases the subordinate actor ("Slave") is not "the property of" or entirely subject to, the coordinating actor ("Master"). Usually it is a matter of coordination, or of information flow, signalling path or perhaps merely a question of which process is accountable when a decision needs to be made. In that light, Boss/Worker is another couplet of terms I've seen used that seems more apt. But otherwise I agree with everything else you have said.
LoSboccacc 11y ago
Well master/slave could be changed with primary/standby or primary/replica in most situations, still we can change terms all we want people will find reason to be offended. Sometimes they have a point, often they should just go away if they are offended by something. Drawing the line right is responsability of the society, but the problem is hate group waves amplify only certain kind of extremists and almost never the voice of reason is to be heard within the stream of hateful posts.
- AnimalMuppet 11y ago
  I've actually used "master/slave", maybe a 15 years ago, and "primary/replica" is the first time I've heard something that really describes what we were doing. It actually fits better than "master/slave", because the primary wasn't giving orders to the replica, it was giving update data. I thought it was the perfect term. But then I realized that "primary/replica" is offensive to the replicants out there (think Blade Runner)...
  - ricksplat 11y ago
    LOL! - I think if that were the case, and said replicants had been emancipated then you would have to be a little more careful with those terms. Not worth getting your fingers broken for.

by mercer 11y ago

ricksplat 11y ago

Well that's just it .. I don't agree that master/slave is the most accurate terminology, in many of the places that it is used. It's a term that has emerged quite innocently from a particular cultural orientation. I don't think it's the most accurate term because in many cases the subordinate actor ("Slave") is not "the property of" or entirely subject to, the coordinating actor ("Master"). Usually it is a matter of coordination, or of information flow, signalling path or perhaps merely a question of which process is accountable when a decision needs to be made. In that light, Boss/Worker is another couplet of terms I've seen used that seems more apt. But otherwise I agree with everything else you have said.

LoSboccacc 11y ago

Well master/slave could be changed with primary/standby or primary/replica in most situations, still we can change terms all we want people will find reason to be offended. Sometimes they have a point, often they should just go away if they are offended by something. Drawing the line right is responsability of the society, but the problem is hate group waves amplify only certain kind of extremists and almost never the voice of reason is to be heard within the stream of hateful posts.

AnimalMuppet 11y ago
I've actually used "master/slave", maybe a 15 years ago, and "primary/replica" is the first time I've heard something that really describes what we were doing. It actually fits better than "master/slave", because the primary wasn't giving orders to the replica, it was giving update data. I thought it was the perfect term. But then I realized that "primary/replica" is offensive to the replicants out there (think Blade Runner)...
- ricksplat 11y ago
  LOL! - I think if that were the case, and said replicants had been emancipated then you would have to be a little more careful with those terms. Not worth getting your fingers broken for.