'Master/slave' Most Politically Incorrect Phrase...

[Zim Hosein]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The computer term "master/slave," which was banned as racially offensive by a Los Angeles County purchasing department, was named the most politically incorrect term of the year on Thursday.
Among other terms on the top 10 list of politically charged words and phrases, issued by the word usage group Global Language Monitor, were "non-same sex marriage" to describe heterosexual unions, "waitron" for waiter or waitress and "higher being" for God, a term some people found too religious.

"We found 'master/slave' to be the most egregious example of political correctness in 2004," said Paul JJ Payack, president of The Global Language Monitor.

"This is but one more example of the insertion of politics into every facet of modern life, down to the level of the control processes of computer technology."

In computer terminology, "master/slave" refers to primary and secondary hard disk drives. But a Los Angeles county purchasing department told vendors in late 2003 that the term was offensive and violated the region's cultural diversity. The county's department of affirmative action undertook a hunt to replace it on packages.

After a public uproar, the county backed down. Payack said that while the incident took place in late 2003, debate about it grew enormously in 2004.

The phrase "non-same sex marriage," was used by a former congressman who did not want to offend gay people by using the term traditional marriage, Payack said.

Also on the list this year were "Red Sox lover," to use in place of "Yankee hater," "progressive" for classical liberal, "incurious" rather than more impolite invectives for President Bush, "insurgents" instead of terrorists in Iraq, "baristas" for waiters, and "first year student" rather than freshman.

© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.

'Master/slave' Most Politically Incorrect Phrase 😕

 

[Nikamichi]

:frown:

 

[ToeStub]

Did you just pull your head out of your ass? This is old news.

 

[CarlKillerMiller]

You have to be fvcking kidding me.

 

[Brutuskend]

I heard about that and all I can say is :roll:

 

[TuxDave]

But but... what about my master/slave latch circuits?

 

[EpsiIon]

Does it scare anybody else that there's a Global Language Monitor?

 

[Brutuskend]

Next: Male/Female (as used to describe "this thing goes in THAT thing")

I can see gays getting ALL up in arms over THIS one...

 

[Nikamichi]

Originally posted by: ToeStub
Did you just pull your head out of your ass? This is old news.

Speak for yourself. It may be old news, but there's a reason it popped up once again on reuters.

'Master/slave' Most Politically Incorrect Phrase
Fri Dec 3, 2004 09:13 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The computer term "master/slave," which was banned as racially offensive by a Los Angeles County purchasing department, was named the most politically incorrect term of the year on Thursday.

 

[Hyperblaze]

For Christ's sake...folks need to get over it.

It's COMPUTER terms, nothing to do with what happened years ago!

 

[Syringer]

After a public uproar, the county backed down. Payack said that while the incident took place in late 2003, debate about it grew enormously in 2004.

 

[ToeStub]

Originally posted by: Nikamichi

Originally posted by: ToeStub
Did you just pull your head out of your ass? This is old news.

Speak for yourself. It may be old news, but there's a reason it popped up once again on reuters.

'Master/slave' Most Politically Incorrect Phrase
Fri Dec 3, 2004 09:13 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The computer term "master/slave," which was banned as racially offensive by a Los Angeles County purchasing department, was named the most politically incorrect term of the year on Thursday.

I did speak for myself. This has been bandied about for a year or two.

 

[trilks]

Seriously. Some people have too much time on their hands. For fvck's sake...

 

[Squisher]

What about the term male/female when referring to a connection?

I can hardly plug in my vacuum cleaner without being offended.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: Squisher
What about the term male/female when referring to a connection?

I can hardly plug in my vacuum cleaner without being offended.

Sorry, I beat you too that one. 😉

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
I heard about that and all I can say is :roll:

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: Jero
For Christ's sake...folks need to get over it.

It's COMPUTER terms, nothing to do with what happened years ago!

I agree!

And people need to stop using slavery for everything that they don't like... education, state flags, computer terms...

It was over 150 years ago... people need to let it go!!

🙂

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend

Originally posted by: Squisher
What about the term male/female when referring to a connection?

I can hardly plug in my vacuum cleaner without being offended.

Sorry, I beat you too that one. 😉

Damn, hunt and peck for me🙁😉😀

 

[kranky]

Seeing the term "master/slave" as racist implies that the relationship between master and slave is based on race, which is a racist interpretation of the term. But I bet the LA County Purchasing Department People With Nothing Useful To Do While Collecting Taxpayer Dollars is pretty proud to have elevated the term to the most politically incorrect phrase of the year.

I have no doubt that they can look past the ridicule and pat themselves on the back for "increasing awareness".

 

[RaiderJ]

Can I be offended because my vehicle "honks"?

 

[TitanDiddly]

:|:|

Speechless.

 

[EyeMWing]

Holy thread ressurections, Batman.

 

[Cristatus]

actually, i find the male/female term fairly helpful. i mean, how else are you supposed to described the connectors without using more that one word?

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

This country could really use one giant enema. Where's the fvcking meteor when you need it.

 

[jjones]

I didn't realize they still had slaves in Los Angeles that could be offended by this. I sure hope the ACLU looks into what's going on in that town; the Justice Dept should have a look as well.