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“The International Labour Organization[5] estimates that, by their definitions, over 40 million people are in some form of slavery today. 24.9 million people ar

“The International Labour Organization[5] estimates that, by their definitions, over 40 million people are in some form of slavery today. 24.9 million people are in forced labor, of whom 16 million people are exploited in the private sector such as domestic work, construction or agriculture; 4.8 million persons in forced sexual exploitation, and 4 million persons in forced labor imposed by state authorities. 15.4 million people are in forced marriage.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_21st_century https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_21st_century

luckylion 6y ago
You're suggesting that the actual slaves take issue with the usage of the word "slave" in tech?
- austinjp 6y ago
  I don't think this is the thrust of the issue, but since you mention it, yes. I'm pretty sure someone who lives in modern slavery would find it sickening to learn that the word "slave" is used casually without consideration for those it describes. But we all know the historical role of slavery in many cultures, and the legacy it has left in current life, which is more the issue. It's a selfish and unjustifiable situation to be in, where one group of people casually uses language that describes a different group in questionable terms without considering how the other group might feel. It's trivial to implement. Questioning it is a hair's breadth from defending it.
  - luckylion 6y ago
    > But we all know the historical role of slavery in many cultures, and the legacy it has left in current life, which is more the issue. Why bring "current slavery" into it then, if this is what you mean? Personally, I'm pretty sure that slaves care about slavery, not language in Go documentation, but that's speculation of course. > without considering how the other group might feel Have you asked a slave in Saudi Arabia how they feel about the usage of the word Slave in Go documentation?
    - austinjp 6y ago
      > Why bring "current slavery" into it Because it was mentioned in the post you replied to. > Have you asked a slave in Saudi Arabia how they feel about the usage of the word Slave in Go documentation? Why Saudi? Slavery exists globally. You know someone whose ancestors were bought, sold and died as slaves. Ask them how they feel about it.
      - tomnipotent 6y ago
        > Why Saudi? Maybe because it's easier to Google and find supporting evidence? You should give it a try. > You know someone whose ancestors were bought Sure, rather than the 40 million living it first hand.
        austinjp 6y ago
        I'm frankly bemused at the push-back in this thread, and totally lost about your aggressive tone towards me. The parent post links to global slavery information, here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23446390 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23446390 The original post was about choice of language in code repositories. I've no idea what you're objecting to. I'm out.
  - Brian_K_White 6y ago
    You know... millions of real people suffer from actual broken bones, and millions more suffer from being broke (having no money). I think it's pretty insensitive how we use the word break and broken so casually in all kinds of tech documentation...
zrtayx 6y ago
Yes, and Google is a customer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxconn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxconn Deeply hypocritical, but it of course is easier and cheaper to focus on historical injustices. How about stopping business and censorship in China? Who would Google have done business with in the 19th century?

luckylion 6y ago

You're suggesting that the actual slaves take issue with the usage of the word "slave" in tech?

austinjp 6y ago
I don't think this is the thrust of the issue, but since you mention it, yes. I'm pretty sure someone who lives in modern slavery would find it sickening to learn that the word "slave" is used casually without consideration for those it describes. But we all know the historical role of slavery in many cultures, and the legacy it has left in current life, which is more the issue. It's a selfish and unjustifiable situation to be in, where one group of people casually uses language that describes a different group in questionable terms without considering how the other group might feel. It's trivial to implement. Questioning it is a hair's breadth from defending it.
- luckylion 6y ago
  > But we all know the historical role of slavery in many cultures, and the legacy it has left in current life, which is more the issue. Why bring "current slavery" into it then, if this is what you mean? Personally, I'm pretty sure that slaves care about slavery, not language in Go documentation, but that's speculation of course. > without considering how the other group might feel Have you asked a slave in Saudi Arabia how they feel about the usage of the word Slave in Go documentation?
  - austinjp 6y ago
    > Why bring "current slavery" into it Because it was mentioned in the post you replied to. > Have you asked a slave in Saudi Arabia how they feel about the usage of the word Slave in Go documentation? Why Saudi? Slavery exists globally. You know someone whose ancestors were bought, sold and died as slaves. Ask them how they feel about it.
    - tomnipotent 6y ago
      > Why Saudi? Maybe because it's easier to Google and find supporting evidence? You should give it a try. > You know someone whose ancestors were bought Sure, rather than the 40 million living it first hand.
      - austinjp 6y ago
        I'm frankly bemused at the push-back in this thread, and totally lost about your aggressive tone towards me. The parent post links to global slavery information, here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23446390 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23446390 The original post was about choice of language in code repositories. I've no idea what you're objecting to. I'm out.
- Brian_K_White 6y ago
  You know... millions of real people suffer from actual broken bones, and millions more suffer from being broke (having no money). I think it's pretty insensitive how we use the word break and broken so casually in all kinds of tech documentation...

zrtayx 6y ago

Yes, and Google is a customer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxconn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxconn Deeply hypocritical, but it of course is easier and cheaper to focus on historical injustices. How about stopping business and censorship in China? Who would Google have done business with in the 19th century?