Master and slave

[Spongebob]

I guess a lot of Americans think of American slavery when they hear the terms master and slave. Especially Southerners. I think of ancient slavery. I bet a lot of Europeans do too (I'm an American Northerner).

I like the spirit behind your idea, but isn't it a bit of a superficial task? (Not to mention tedious?)

I'm not knocking it. Just offering up criticisms.

If you are considering modifying existing systems, then yes it would be a significant task with no functional gain.  However, I'm writing a specification for a project right now and found myself referring to a system in terms of master/slave and just stopped and asked why I was doing that.  For any new systems, replacing the terms is zero cost/effort.  Over time the terms should fall out of use and eventually all older systems will be replaced.  Virtually no one refers to their refrigerator as an "icebox" now because the term was replaced and only older generations even remember its use.

[Divinity]

The key to language is communication and understanding. If there's a way to accomplish both while avoiding offense, I think that's the way to go. I suspect that master/slave when used in the industry context is understood in its technical sense and shorn of much of its historical baggage, but if it bothers you or you suspect it may be causing offense, then see if another phrase will effectively convey the same meaning and switch to that. Maybe it will catch on.

Right, exactly. Nobody should be offended by such wording. We can't just change everything because some people's feelings might get hurt if we don't change things. There's nothing logical about that.

Why not?

[vulcanlogician]

I guess a lot of Americans think of American slavery when they hear the terms master and slave. Especially Southerners. I think of ancient slavery. I bet a lot of Europeans do too (I'm an American Northerner).

I like the spirit behind your idea, but isn't it a bit of a superficial task? (Not to mention tedious?)

I'm not knocking it. Just offering up criticisms.

If you are considering modifying existing systems, then yes it would be a significant task with no functional gain.  However, I'm writing a specification for a project right now and found myself referring to a system in terms of master/slave and just stopped and asked why I was doing that.  For any new systems, replacing the terms is zero cost/effort.  Over time the terms should fall out of use and eventually all older systems will be replaced.  Virtually no one refers to their refrigerator as an "icebox" now because the term was replaced and only older generations even remember its use.

Yes. I should have also mentioned that I'm generally ignorant concerning computer science.

[Spongebob]

Right, exactly. Nobody should be offended by such wording. We can't just change everything because some people's feelings might get hurt if we don't change things. There's nothing logical about that.

Why should you get to decide what words are offensive to other people with different experiences?  Changing one's vocabulary to avoid offensive terms usually costs nothing.  Its a minor inconvenience at the most extreme that some people, typically strident conservatives, exaggerate into a massive cultural intrusion.  Deciding to avoid using offensive terms is a very reasonable thing to do.  Continuing to use offensive terms after someone or some group has identified them as offensive is willfully hurtful.  If you said that you didn't appreciate being call a nutjob because of your mental issues, then I would respect that.  I guess "respect" is the operative word here.  If one has any respect for fellow human beings, they would consider such minor modifications in vocabulary a worthwhile thing to do.  But I realize that respect for others is a rare thing in the United States of Assholes these days.

In my particular case, I can't say for certain that black people are offended by master/slave, but to me it feels strange and inappropriate to say those things when there are perfectly adequate alternatives.  There used to be a popular slang phrase (or two) that referred to temporarily rigging something together.  I don't use those terms anymore either for the same reasons.  And lets not forget the common term used when a tough negotiator gets a good deal.  I believe that dismissing the replacement of such words as being "too sensitive" is a intellectual laziness and selfish.

[brewer]

Arthur and Dennis, fixed.

[Ahriman]

Right, exactly. Nobody should be offended by such wording. We can't just change everything because some people's feelings might get hurt if we don't change things. There's nothing logical about that.

Why not?

We shouldn't encourage wimpy, sensitive mindsets. People shouldn't be wimpy or sensitive in the first place, but if some people are going to be overly sensitive, then we shouldn't listen to them. I would much rather live in a nation of strong individuals who aren't easily offended, than individuals who get offended over words.

[LadyForCamus]

Why not?

We shouldn't encourage wimpy, sensitive mindsets. People shouldn't be wimpy or sensitive in the first place, but if some people are going to be overly sensitive, then we shouldn't listen to them. I would much rather live in a nation of strong individuals who aren't easily offended, than individuals who get offended over words.

Who gets to be the arbiter of what is “legitimately offensive” versus “overly sensitive”? 

You? That seems like a pretty subjective standard, don’t you think?

[Ahriman]

We shouldn't encourage wimpy, sensitive mindsets. People shouldn't be wimpy or sensitive in the first place, but if some people are going to be overly sensitive, then we shouldn't listen to them. I would much rather live in a nation of strong individuals who aren't easily offended, than individuals who get offended over words.

Who gets to be the arbiter of what is “rightfully offensive” versus “overly sensitive”? 

You?

Perhaps me, but I was thinking more like, a collective of strong individuals, that may or may not include me.

[Brian37]

Why not?

We shouldn't encourage wimpy, sensitive mindsets. People shouldn't be wimpy or sensitive in the first place, but if some people are going to be overly sensitive, then we shouldn't listen to them. I would much rather live in a nation of strong individuals who aren't easily offended, than individuals who get offended over words.

No, I am so sick of the world, regardless of politics, religion, or economics valuing dominance just for the sake of. I am a wimp. I love being a wimp. Now that is not to say I won't defend myself if need be. But humans have far too much of a tendency to punch first, than to make a rational argument without violence. 

Brawn does work in evolution, but it is only one aspect of evolution, and brawn does not guarantee success indefinitely. 

Hitler and Stalin were both successful in their idea of brawn working, but both of them eventually died regardless of their delusions of grandeur.

[Spongebob]

Why not?

We shouldn't encourage wimpy, sensitive mindsets. People shouldn't be wimpy or sensitive in the first place, but if some people are going to be overly sensitive, then we shouldn't listen to them. I would much rather live in a nation of strong individuals who aren't easily offended, than individuals who get offended over words.

You're so right.  We should encourage people to be arrogant asshats who reject intelligence and higher learning for clubs and dragging our women around by the hair.

Strength of character, mindset, intelligence, name just about any characteristic you want, is not related to the desire to not be insulted at every turn.