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Avoid master/slave terminology

(bugs.python.org)
34 points atoledano | 4 comments | 10 Sep 18 20:15 UTC | HN request time: 0.668s | source
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grep-F ◴[10 Sep 18 21:36 UTC] No.17955424[source]▶
I don't like that type of changes, it seems very counterproductive. Those are words used in a context and to me it seems that today people lost their minds and trying to keep everybody in perfect hermetic world, where everybody is happy and smiling. On one side we say to not judge anybody or anything, and on the other we do things like that - where if you would get the context everything would be ok. What will be next? Should we change kill command as well?
replies(1): >>17955629 #
UncleMeat ◴[10 Sep 18 22:08 UTC] No.17955629[source]▶
The goal isn't to create a perfect world. The goal is to create a slightly better world at extremely minimal cost, given that there are plenty of workable alternative terms. I agree that this affects a very small number of people. But it does affect them and we have an opportunity to make the world just a tiny bit more kind.
replies(1): >>17955761 #
1. grep-F ◴[10 Sep 18 22:34 UTC] No.17955761[source]▶
I don't agree, I think some people are being overprotective.

Let's go the other way around, how many words that might sound bad, in how many languages, exists in all the codebases. And now, how many people feeling bad about this I have to find to make change to some code? I know that sounds ridiculous, but I want to say, hey where's the limit, should we all speak using some machine - neutral words?

And another argument, what if that kind of change could brake my project, do somebody care about me?

replies(2): >>17956673 #>>17956826 #
2. downquarklove ◴[11 Sep 18 02:03 UTC] No.17956673[source]▶
If the code is written in English, and the meaning in English is genuinely offensive to some, then yes I believe it should all be changed.
3. UncleMeat ◴[11 Sep 18 02:44 UTC] No.17956826[source]▶
Sure why not? If a term is truly causing harm then we should seriously consider removing it.

Programs are identical after renaming. How exactly would such a change break your project?

replies(1): >>17957976 #
4. type0 ◴[11 Sep 18 08:16 UTC] No.17957976[source]▶
How can technical terminology cause harm? This is simply "history revisionist" attempt to erase the concept from the public consciousness. The usage of the "slave" word in software is so abstract that removing creates much more harm because it will produce miscommunication and result in faulty programs where there shouldn't .

What word will one replace "slave" with? Should we go to the origins of the word and just use ethnonym "slav" instead? After all it has only positive connotations {The word slovo ("word") and the related slava ("glory, fame"...}. And sure slavic people won't mind right?! /s