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> For example: git master branch. We had a HUGE kerfuffle over that, to the point where even GitHub now gives git init examples that create and rename the maste

by reshlo 2y ago

> For example: git master branch. We had a HUGE kerfuffle over that, to the point where even GitHub now gives git init examples that create and rename the master branch to "main". This was a pointless exercise that served no useful purpose other than to make a bunch of social justice warriors feel important. Does changing my git branch naming practice harm me? No. Does it encourage me to be more thoughtful about how I use language in general, even if that particular case probably doesn’t really matter? Yes. I see that as an absolute win. By the way, Git’s release notes explicitly mention a desire to “wean ourselves off of the hardcoded ‘master’”[0]. GitHub is just following the intended use of the tool that it wraps. > people do crave status, and will subconsciously tweak their beliefs to put them on the virtuous side of whatever they're doing Why is it bad that people try to be virtuous, and why do you think that wanting to be virtuous implies a desire for status? [0] https://lore.kernel.org/git/xmqq5za8hpir.fsf@gitster.c.googlers.com/ https://lore.kernel.org/git/xmqq5za8hpir.fsf@gitster.c.googl...

kstenerud 2y ago
> Does changing my git branch naming practice harm me? No. Does it encourage me to be more thoughtful about how I use language in general, even if that particular case probably doesn’t really matter? Yes. I see that as an absolute win. And that's how it's done: by inverting the rules of evidence from "prove that it's harmful" to "prove that it's not harmful" - usually followed on with something to the effect of "It's just a small adjustment... Why are you so adamantly against it? Are you one of those bad intolerant people?" It's insidious because people are afraid of being on the wrong side of things socially, which makes them easy to manipulate in this way. But there are those of us who will stand up and say "No. The line stays where it's at until you can prove your claim with strong evidence." > Why is it bad that people try to be virtuous, and why do you think that wanting to be virtuous implies a desire for status? And there you go again putting words in my mouth, twisting things just so, in order to push me into an untenable position.

by reshlo 2y ago

kstenerud 2y ago

> Does changing my git branch naming practice harm me? No. Does it encourage me to be more thoughtful about how I use language in general, even if that particular case probably doesn’t really matter? Yes. I see that as an absolute win. And that's how it's done: by inverting the rules of evidence from "prove that it's harmful" to "prove that it's not harmful" - usually followed on with something to the effect of "It's just a small adjustment... Why are you so adamantly against it? Are you one of those bad intolerant people?" It's insidious because people are afraid of being on the wrong side of things socially, which makes them easy to manipulate in this way. But there are those of us who will stand up and say "No. The line stays where it's at until you can prove your claim with strong evidence." > Why is it bad that people try to be virtuous, and why do you think that wanting to be virtuous implies a desire for status? And there you go again putting words in my mouth, twisting things just so, in order to push me into an untenable position.