3 ms·

> considered somewhat inappropriate because of other uses of the same word in racist orgs are we really in a time where "double plus good" is the only acceptab

by josefx 6y ago

> considered somewhat inappropriate because of other uses of the same word in racist orgs are we really in a time where "double plus good" is the only acceptable way to indicate that something is better or do we have to point out that racists probably also used each of these words in problematic contexts?

virgilp 6y ago
Apparently, yes. Lots of organizations felt the need to rename the master branch, so, what other proof do you need? As a side note, I grew up in communism, and it would be funny if it wouldn't be sad how much of a feeling of deja-vu this all is. Many people mistake this for a form of "enlightenment" but it's really just a form of herd behavior most of the time :(
bawolff 6y ago
Naively, i kind of feel like advantage is a better term. Supremacy feels like it has implications that quantum computers have overcome all obstacles, which seems a bit much for a contrived problem with no real world applications
eigenket 6y ago
As someone who works in the quantum info / computation / foundations field I prefer "advantage" to "supremacy" not just because of all the racists using the word "supremacy" but also because advantage is more accurate. For me "supremacy" would indicate that quantum computers are convincingly beating classical ones for all or most problems at sufficiently large scale. I.e. if you're google or whatever you're buying quantum computers and using them for a big chunk of you computing needs. This scenario is (in my opinion) overwhelmingly unlikely to occur during my lifetime (or ever). Classical computers aren't going anywhere. Quantum advantage conveys the reality that there are some problems that using quantum computers gives you advantages for, but others for which you should be using classical computation.
krastanov 6y ago
"Advantage" sounds quite a bit better than "double-plus good", but I get your point. I personally like the sound of "quantum supremacy" and think it sounds cool, but it really does not seem worthwhile to die on this hill. If some people have ruined the word and given it extremely negative connotations in the minds of many of my colleagues, why would I insist on using it. For a comically extreme extension of this principle: the swastika used to be a pretty positive symbol, but it was ruined as such. It is not the first time that we as a community have decided that a common symbol/word is "ruined" and I do not particularly care where we place the line on what is considered "ruined".

by josefx 6y ago

virgilp 6y ago

Apparently, yes. Lots of organizations felt the need to rename the master branch, so, what other proof do you need? As a side note, I grew up in communism, and it would be funny if it wouldn't be sad how much of a feeling of deja-vu this all is. Many people mistake this for a form of "enlightenment" but it's really just a form of herd behavior most of the time :(

bawolff 6y ago

Naively, i kind of feel like advantage is a better term. Supremacy feels like it has implications that quantum computers have overcome all obstacles, which seems a bit much for a contrived problem with no real world applications

eigenket 6y ago

As someone who works in the quantum info / computation / foundations field I prefer "advantage" to "supremacy" not just because of all the racists using the word "supremacy" but also because advantage is more accurate. For me "supremacy" would indicate that quantum computers are convincingly beating classical ones for all or most problems at sufficiently large scale. I.e. if you're google or whatever you're buying quantum computers and using them for a big chunk of you computing needs. This scenario is (in my opinion) overwhelmingly unlikely to occur during my lifetime (or ever). Classical computers aren't going anywhere. Quantum advantage conveys the reality that there are some problems that using quantum computers gives you advantages for, but others for which you should be using classical computation.

krastanov 6y ago

"Advantage" sounds quite a bit better than "double-plus good", but I get your point. I personally like the sound of "quantum supremacy" and think it sounds cool, but it really does not seem worthwhile to die on this hill. If some people have ruined the word and given it extremely negative connotations in the minds of many of my colleagues, why would I insist on using it. For a comically extreme extension of this principle: the swastika used to be a pretty positive symbol, but it was ruined as such. It is not the first time that we as a community have decided that a common symbol/word is "ruined" and I do not particularly care where we place the line on what is considered "ruined".