3 ms·
I think we need to get to the point where the term “racist” is not used as a generic catch-all for anything race-related. In this case, the argument is not tha
by nilkn 6y ago
I think we need to get to the point where the term “racist” is not used as a generic catch-all for anything race-related.
In this case, the argument is not that the term “master” is inherently racist. This term has a vast number of legitimate and completely non-racial usages throughout the English language.
Rather, the argument is that in this case the term tends to remind folks of slavery, and that is an uncomfortable thing to be reminded of. That doesn’t mean the term is now “racist”.
Now, why folks feel reminded of slavery due to this usage but not the countless other usages of the term is not something I personally understand. I don’t think of slavery when I hear the term “master’s degree”, and I don’t think of slavery when I hear the term “master branch.” But it’s not really my place to take issue with what terms in which contexts call to mind slavery for other people.
I do think it would be useful to do some surveys and figure out if this is something that is actually common before making such a widespread breaking change.
- hashkb 6y ago> But it’s not really my place to take issue with what terms in which contexts call to mind slavery for other people. That's all you had to know. > I think we need to get to the point where the term “racist” is not used as a generic catch-all for anything race-related. You should understand that this supports racist ideas and policy when you say it. Edit: unless you mean "in another 400 years after we've made radical policy changes" Edit again: I can't reply bc posting speed limits and the balance of racism/antiracism in HN threads, so please go read e.g. "How to be an Antiracist" and you'll see where I'm coming from.
- nilkn 6y agoI don’t really understand what point you’re trying to make. I don’t find it helpful to apply “racist” unthinkingly as a blanket term that encompasses anything and everything race-related, and I cannot agree with you that my post in any way supports racist policies.