5 ms·

master/slave just describes a type of relationship between two entities. there is nothing to feel strongly about. the context is what matters. using master/slav

master/slave just describes a type of relationship between two entities. there is nothing to feel strongly about. the context is what matters. using master/slave in a technical context is not immoral. using it to describe the relationship between people is.

bsaul 6y ago
it's not even immoral to describe human relationship this way if that's actually what's happening between the given humans. We've became offended by words, without context. It's just crazy... Master and slave , black and white. are becoming curse words.
- dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
  This. People got so confused they started fighting with words. What's interesting is that the reverse is happening. These words were completly innocuous, especially in this context. Now whenever I see a "blackilist" I think about black people and how this would offend them. Before I say something, I think a bit if I don't pronounce any word that might be assigned a negative value by someone. I speak less often. What is even more ridiculous is that it's an American thing. English speakers in other parts of the world look in amazement what is happening and how it's going to end.
  - SambalOelek 6y ago
    Let's say you are training a black intern. Do you think you could, with a straight face, explain the nuances of a master-slave relationship in the Linux ecocsystem? On some level, you must know these words have meaning.
    - pinkfoot 6y ago
      Done it a few times down here in Africa. Was never a problem. Presumably you'll now update your position based on my personal anecdote? [Or is that not how it works]
    - cabraca 6y ago
      On some level, you must know that meanings change based on the context a word is used in. The sentence "i love you" changes its meaning based on the context. you can say it to your mom, your partner, your friend or even complete strangers after they helped you. every time the meaning changes.
    - yakshaving_jgt 6y ago
      Why do you say "black intern"? Why the obsession with black people? Do you understand that slavery is a global problem that has both been perpetrated by and victimised people of all races? I'm Polish. My great-grandfather died in a Nazi concentration camp, as a slave. Would you care to be offended on my behalf too? Or will you tell me that I am no longer allowed to use words with multiple meanings in case I might offend myself?
    - Hamuko 6y ago
      >Do you think you could, with a straight face, explain the nuances of a master-slave relationship in the Linux ecocsystem? Yes? Master/slave in computers is not the same as slavery in the real life, which is why we can actually do things like switch a server from a master to a slave and vice versa.
      - acdha 6y ago
        Think about how that sounds from the perspective of someone learning this: “we don’t actually use this term following the dictionary definition, we just like keeping it instead of using more accurate words” What do we lose by switching to precise terms which don’t require everyone to internalize an overloaded meaning in multiple contexts?
        Hamuko 6y ago
        >“we don’t actually use this term following the dictionary definition, we just like keeping it instead of using more accurate words” Words can have more than one meaning. Besides, computer terminology has a lot of words that have different meaning in the context of computers than outside of it. We have the desktop, we have the mouse, we have cookies, viruses, buses, servers, clients and so on. Should we get rid of the "virus" since it can be so easily confused for the thing that is upending the world right now?
        acdha 6y ago
        “Virus” follows closely with the biological behavior, and it doesn’t have a recent history of being targeted at specific groups. Master/slave is technically inaccurate in most use and, unlike mouse, it bothers some people. Why are you so attached to keeping incorrect terms when changing will have no impact on your life?
        Hamuko 6y ago
        I mean, it'll only have no impact on my life as long as I don't have to go and change my master/slave instances to be something else. And again, it's no less "incorrect" than any of those other terms.
    - dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
      > Let's say you are training a black intern. Do you think you could, with a straight face, explain the nuances of a master-slave relationship in the Linux ecocsystem? It would never, ever cross my mind there is any relationship between my colleague being black and the terminology used in the system. Moreover, I think it would be racist to even suggest so.
    - loco5niner 6y ago
      The color of the person I'm explaining this to has no relevance. Unrelated: Do you think black people are the only people who have suffered in slavery?
  - bsaul 6y ago
    i sincerely hope this remain an american thing, but given the cultural influence the US has over the rest of the world, i wouldn't be so confident. Which is why people should absolutely make a stand whenever they can to not let this craziness reach the rest of the world.

bsaul 6y ago

it's not even immoral to describe human relationship this way if that's actually what's happening between the given humans. We've became offended by words, without context. It's just crazy... Master and slave , black and white. are becoming curse words.

dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
This. People got so confused they started fighting with words. What's interesting is that the reverse is happening. These words were completly innocuous, especially in this context. Now whenever I see a "blackilist" I think about black people and how this would offend them. Before I say something, I think a bit if I don't pronounce any word that might be assigned a negative value by someone. I speak less often. What is even more ridiculous is that it's an American thing. English speakers in other parts of the world look in amazement what is happening and how it's going to end.
- SambalOelek 6y ago
  Let's say you are training a black intern. Do you think you could, with a straight face, explain the nuances of a master-slave relationship in the Linux ecocsystem? On some level, you must know these words have meaning.
  - pinkfoot 6y ago
    Done it a few times down here in Africa. Was never a problem. Presumably you'll now update your position based on my personal anecdote? [Or is that not how it works]
  - cabraca 6y ago
    On some level, you must know that meanings change based on the context a word is used in. The sentence "i love you" changes its meaning based on the context. you can say it to your mom, your partner, your friend or even complete strangers after they helped you. every time the meaning changes.
  - yakshaving_jgt 6y ago
    Why do you say "black intern"? Why the obsession with black people? Do you understand that slavery is a global problem that has both been perpetrated by and victimised people of all races? I'm Polish. My great-grandfather died in a Nazi concentration camp, as a slave. Would you care to be offended on my behalf too? Or will you tell me that I am no longer allowed to use words with multiple meanings in case I might offend myself?
  - Hamuko 6y ago
    >Do you think you could, with a straight face, explain the nuances of a master-slave relationship in the Linux ecocsystem? Yes? Master/slave in computers is not the same as slavery in the real life, which is why we can actually do things like switch a server from a master to a slave and vice versa.
    - acdha 6y ago
      Think about how that sounds from the perspective of someone learning this: “we don’t actually use this term following the dictionary definition, we just like keeping it instead of using more accurate words” What do we lose by switching to precise terms which don’t require everyone to internalize an overloaded meaning in multiple contexts?
      - Hamuko 6y ago
        >“we don’t actually use this term following the dictionary definition, we just like keeping it instead of using more accurate words” Words can have more than one meaning. Besides, computer terminology has a lot of words that have different meaning in the context of computers than outside of it. We have the desktop, we have the mouse, we have cookies, viruses, buses, servers, clients and so on. Should we get rid of the "virus" since it can be so easily confused for the thing that is upending the world right now?
        acdha 6y ago
        “Virus” follows closely with the biological behavior, and it doesn’t have a recent history of being targeted at specific groups. Master/slave is technically inaccurate in most use and, unlike mouse, it bothers some people. Why are you so attached to keeping incorrect terms when changing will have no impact on your life?
        Hamuko 6y ago
        I mean, it'll only have no impact on my life as long as I don't have to go and change my master/slave instances to be something else. And again, it's no less "incorrect" than any of those other terms.
  - dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
    > Let's say you are training a black intern. Do you think you could, with a straight face, explain the nuances of a master-slave relationship in the Linux ecocsystem? It would never, ever cross my mind there is any relationship between my colleague being black and the terminology used in the system. Moreover, I think it would be racist to even suggest so.
  - loco5niner 6y ago
    The color of the person I'm explaining this to has no relevance. Unrelated: Do you think black people are the only people who have suffered in slavery?
- bsaul 6y ago
  i sincerely hope this remain an american thing, but given the cultural influence the US has over the rest of the world, i wouldn't be so confident. Which is why people should absolutely make a stand whenever they can to not let this craziness reach the rest of the world.