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Twitter removing "master", "slave", and "blacklist" to be more inclusi

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,761 ✭✭✭Quantum Erasure


    good article here, read it a couple weeks ago and was trying to find it again

    https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2009/12/light-and-dark-2.html
    The metaphors in question aren’t Western notions, either. From what I’ve been able to find out, they’ve been around since the beginning of time, when people first became aware of the division of their world into day and night, light and dark.
    Joseph Campbell, writing in the journal Daedalus in 1959, says it was the Persian philosopher Zoroaster (circa 600 BC) who put the seal on the concept of darkness being evil.

    For what it’s worth, we don’t believe that metaphors identifying lightness as positive and darkness as negative are inherently racist. They certainly didn’t begin that way, though these negative connotations have certainly fed into and reinforced racism over the centuries.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,007 ✭✭✭s7ryf3925pivug


    I think the dictators who ban words may have a point. By expunging a word they can turn around with a straight face and say said situation is not a problem in their country.


    What shall we call those chess masters now? Or is the banning of words irresspective of the context they are use just more of the same neologisms of politically correct “authoritarians.”


    Black versus white!

    White has a minor advantage so they are more likely to win. (There is a philosophy of playing to win as white or to draw as black.)

    But I don't think this is factored into the rating adjustments when a game is completed.

    So you are literally being penalised for being black!

    And the masters frequently beat the rest of the players.

    Shocking.


  • Registered Users Posts: 265 ✭✭SnazzyPig


    I did a short course on computer maintenance a few years ago and I found this terminology weird.

    Woudn't 'master' and 'servant' be more appropriate?

    It seems perverse to want the Master/slave protocol.


  • Registered Users Posts: 265 ✭✭SnazzyPig


    Ah, I've just glanced back on the posts before mine and the "discussion" seems to be around the word 'blacklist' rather than what I thought the OP was principly about.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,078 ✭✭✭joseywhales


    SnazzyPig wrote: »
    I did a short course on computer maintenance a few years ago and I found this terminology weird.

    Woudn't 'master' and 'servant' be more appropriate?

    It seems perverse to want the Master/slave protocol.

    The slaves processes literally perform the role of a slave, they receive instruction , work and return result. Just because the term is loaded socially, it doesn't make it inaccurate.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,549 ✭✭✭✭Tony EH


    The term is entirely accurate. That's the reason it was used in the first place.

    It has fuck all to do with human slavery, whether that in Roman times or in America in the 19th century. If someone hears that in conjunction with engineering or computing and thinks "human slaves", then the problem is with that person (who is a moron) not the terms.

    There is nothing derogatory, whatsoever, in something like a master switch and absolutely no real reason for someone to get their knickers in a twist.

    Honestly, this is like something you'd read on 'The Onion'...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    Twitter engineers replacing racially loaded tech terms like 'master,' 'slave'

    No.. Not from their site's content or tweets.. From its codebase.

    Since when does a programming language need to be more inclusive? Last year apparently. Some worthless cúnt who works there took issue with it and decided to save the world from racism and slavery.

    But more importantly, how on Earth are "master" or "slave" racially loaded terms when there are more slaves now than ever before, and they're not all black, and the majority of slaves are owned by people of their own race? Why is America trying to force this idea on us that only black people have ever been slaves and only white people have ever been slave owners?

    If they cared about black slavery, they should campaign for black people to stop selling black people to black people in Africa. But I guess it's easier to spend a few mill changing a programming language.


    Let me get this straight ...its reported this is happening on a website ....and you believe it?

    I mean have you seen the extent to which actual newspapers lie?


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Normal people can understand the obvious reasons for light / white being good and dark / black being evil.

    Imagine thinking that it must be about black people. Like tricking yourself into believing something that isn't true because it matches your politics.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,940 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    Normal people can understand the obvious reasons for light / white being good and dark / black being evil.

    Imagine thinking that it must be about black people. Like tricking yourself into believing something that isn't true because it matches your politics.

    What are the obvious reasons?


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  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    What are the obvious reasons?

    That can't be a genuine question. I refuse to believe that a grown adult with a functioning brain can't think of why all around the world, light is associated with good.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    Normal people can understand the obvious reasons for light / white being good and dark / black being evil.


    Firstly why do you think white is associated with light? Light has no colour?

    And why is light good night evil?

    No i can't understand it. It makes no more sense than saying the sun is good and the moon is evil!


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Firstly why do you think white is associated with light? Light has no colour?

    And why is light good night evil?

    No i can't understand it. It makes no more sense than saying the sun is good and the moon is evil!

    You don't understand why cultures all around he world associate light with good and dark with bad or evil..

    Tell us why you think it is, then.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,940 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    That can't be a genuine question. I refuse to believe that a grown adult with a functioning brain can't think of why all around the world, light is associated with good.

    So, you are someone who believes that worldwide, it is self-explanatory that white/light is good but black/dark is evil while also believing that it is ridiculous that many norms in today's society lead to people from a particular community feel alienated.

    Surely if you believe the first part of that statement, you would understand the reason why steps are being taken to overcome an implicit bias in how many things have been portrayed.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    That can't be a genuine question. I refuse to believe that a grown adult with a functioning brain can't think of why all around the world, light is associated with good.
    I can't believe a grown adult would assume that light is associated with good all around the world.

    Just to let you know ..that is not true.

    Black and white dualism is VERY christian thing WESTERN THING.

    And NO not all cultures think this way.

    Egypt for example called itself the black land ...or the dark land ...they associated red with bad and black with good.

    It would be like saying everyone sees the moon as bad and the sun as good.


    And maybe even such a statement as 'darkness is associated with evil is universal' shows a rudimentary understanding of those very cultures at best.

    Its blindness ...ignorance ...that is what is associated with evil....

    Reception intellect.

    Plato's cave was not associating darkness with stupidity ..it was nothing to do with a cave you get me? Its more or less saying ..some people don't wanna learn no matter what.

    but whatever.

    Darkness is healing. Darkness is protective. Darkness ...helps you see things in a diff way.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    You don't understand why cultures all around he world associate light with good and dark with bad or evil..

    Tell us why you think it is, then.


    THEY ...DON'T ....

    Not even your own contemporary culture associated darkness with evil ...

    365xk.jpg

    Islam ,Judaism all go by the lunar calendar not the solar one.


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  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Is it about black people, or not?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    Is it about black people, or not?

    Firstly the OP has decided that this report is true. Which its probably not.

    And the rest of this is just trying to create this fake culture war nonsense.

    Its not about black people. Its about what some people will actually believe.


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Firstly the OP has decided that this report is true. Which its probably not.

    And the rest of this is just trying to create this fake culture war nonsense.

    Its not about black people. Its about what some people will actually believe.

    I'm the OP. Cnet is a very reputable source and it's all over the internet.

    Glad we can agree that it's not about black people. That's all I wanted to hear.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,940 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    I'm the OP. Cnet is a very reputable source and it's all over the internet.

    Glad we can agree that it's not about black people. That's all I wanted to hear.

    You just proved the validity of Twitters move with your white/light good, black/dark bad thing.


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    You just proved the validity of Twitters move with your white/light good, black/dark bad thing.

    In whatever cuckooland you have been living in for the last few years, I'm sure I did. Out in the real world, no I didn't.

    Why do you think of dark / black / bad / evil when you see a black person? I don't. I just see a person.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,693 ✭✭✭2u2me


    If twitter and other big companies are removing these words, then why shouldn't the OED also? In fact all the dictionaries should.

    We should also ban the use of these words under penalty of death. Nothing else is good enough, this is racism we're talking about people.

    Anyone thinking these words should turn themselves in immediately for rehabilitation.(Ala starbucks sensitivity training).

    Then, finally, the world will be a better place.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,974 ✭✭✭Chris_Heilong


    It is stupid and a lot of programming languages are doing it too, a lot of SJW get into programming and brainchild these stupid rewrites, the OP is correct it is dumb and any grown adult can see nothing in these term is racial.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,204 ✭✭✭✭One eyed Jack


    Normal people can understand the obvious reasons for light / white being good and dark / black being evil.

    Imagine thinking that it must be about black people. Like tricking yourself into believing something that isn't true because it matches your politics.


    It doesn’t help though, does it? I think that’s the point being made. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this Benetton advertisement that was on billboards all around Ireland at the time -


    91bae46eb8ab9889084f4412407f2a58.jpg


    10 Most Controversial United Colors Of Benetton Ads


    Your efforts to deny the connection are like Gilette claiming there was no intention to court controversy with their recent advertising campaign. They’re being patently disingenuous, that’s exactly what it was intended to do.

    In the same way, yes we’re all aware that master and slave are in the context of computer hardware, but they were called that in the first place as a result of their relationship and function being analogous to master and slave from a historical social context! That nobody saw anything inappropriate with it at the time is insufficient justification to maintain the terms.

    Are you really suggesting you’re going to be that put out by the relationship being understood as something else using alternative terminology? I doubt it, computer terminology, just like hardware, develops all the time and language used to describe these relationships and objects becomes obsolete just as fast.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    I'm the OP. Cnet is a very reputable source and it's all over the internet.

    Glad we can agree that it's not about black people. That's all I wanted to hear.


    Really ...you just want people to tell you something ..that what this is about?

    I don't owe you anything...


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]



    In the same way, yes we’re all aware that master and slave are in the context of computer hardware, but they were called that in the first place as a result of their relationship and function being analogous to master and slave from a historical social context! That nobody saw anything inappropriate with it at the time is insufficient justification to maintain the terms.

    No idea why you're adding in United Colors Of Benetton. And no, I won't be put out by it because while I am a programmer, I have never had to use those terms as I am not advanced enough basically. If there is some shift where these terms are changed and older applications don't work on my servers, then I will be affected. That's unlikely though.


    And they are called that because they are the suitable terms for it. There is nothing inappropriate about it, then or now. That's my point. They aren't racially charged terms. Slavery ended 150 years ago in the US, and there are more slaves now than ever before. And it's got nothing to do with race. I strongly dislike this notion that slave = black person when in reality, slave is the person catching that shrimp you're eating while discussing how good it is Twitter is making this move. Slave is the prostitute you visit afterwards while feeling good about how socially progressive you are.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes




    And they are called that because they are the suitable terms for it. There is nothing inappropriate about it, then or now. That's my point. They aren't racially charged terms. Slavery ended 150 years ago in the US, and there are more slaves now than ever before. And it's got nothing to do with race. .


    Modern Slavery has a lot to do with race and even more to do with gender.

    The Global Slavery Index (2018) estimated that roughly 40.3 million individuals are currently caught in modern slavery, with 71% of those being female.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,204 ✭✭✭✭One eyed Jack


    No idea why you're adding in United Colors Of Benetton. And no, I won't be put out by it because while I am a programmer, I have never had to use those terms as I am not advanced enough basically. If there is some shift where these terms are changed and older applications don't work on my servers, then I will be affected. That's unlikely though.


    You don’t have to be a programmer to know that there are over 500 programming languages, some obsolete, some in regular use, and more being developed all the time.

    And they are called that because they are the suitable terms for it. There is nothing inappropriate about it, then or now. That's my point. They aren't racially charged terms. Slavery ended 150 years ago in the US, and there are more slaves now than ever before. And it's got nothing to do with race. I strongly dislike this notion that slave = black person when in reality, slave is the person catching that shrimp you're eating while discussing how good it is Twitter is making this move. Slave is the prostitute you visit afterwards while feeling good about how socially progressive you are.


    Riiiiiiight, and you have ‘no idea’ why I added in the United Colours of Benetton advertising campaigns? :rolleyes:


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    To use the slippery slope argument, in recent time we have seen the word white be bad enough for it to be removed from Nivea whitening cream, and the word black be bad enough that blacklist or black sheep is an issue. If white is used in a positive context, it's racist. If black is used in a negative context, it's racist.

    This is only going one way. The more people cheer things on saying "Well how does it affect you?" as if these events exist in a vacuum, the more it will happen. There's a whitewashing of history and language to try and appease this loud minority of people who desperately try to be insulted by everything. Getting insulted by the terms master and slave when you are a highly-paid engineer in Twitter is a conscious decision. If you are that high in that field, you know it's not a racial thing.

    And it is a slippery slope. As evidenced by people in this thread who never thought about this stuff before but now support the terms' removal. I can't believe we're living in a time where "whitelist" is problematic because it's a positive thing containing the word white.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    To use the slippery slope argument, in recent time we have seen the word white be bad enough for it to be removed from Nivea whitening cream, and the word black be bad enough that blacklist or black sheep is an issue. If white is used in a positive context, it's racist. If black is used in a negative context, it's racist.
    .
    Nivea whitening cream is a skin bleaching cream that when used makes the skin more prone to skin cancers.
    Constant use of skin lightening products has now proven to cause cell mutation and damage due to the absorption by the skin. These products also cause the production of free radical cells in your body that causes cancer.

    All because darker skin has been made less desirable.


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Modern Slavery has a lot to do with race and even more to do with gender.

    The Global Slavery Index (2018) estimated that roughly 40.3 million individuals are currently caught in modern slavery, with 71% of those being female.

    It really doesn't have much to do with race. There aren't plantations of one race owning another. Gangs own modern slaves and gangs use their own.

    Black pimps, black prostitutes. Asian shrimp boats, Asian slaves. Eastern European gangs, Eastern European women.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    It really doesn't have much to do with race. There aren't plantations of one race owning another. Gangs own modern slaves and gangs use their own.

    Black pimps, black prostitutes. Asian shrimp boats, Asian slaves. Eastern European gangs, Eastern European women.


    POC are more likely to be slaves. And they are less likely to be found by the police ....


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    All because darker skin has been made less desirable.

    It has absolutely nothing to do with black people or Caucasian people though. It's just stupid and people think it's progressive.


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    POC are more likely to be slaves. And they are less likely to be found by the police ....

    That's not a racial thing. Holy Jesus.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,940 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    To use the slippery slope argument, in recent time we have seen the word white be bad enough for it to be removed from Nivea whitening cream, and the word black be bad enough that blacklist or black sheep is an issue. If white is used in a positive context, it's racist. If black is used in a negative context, it's racist.

    This is only going one way. The more people cheer things on saying "Well how does it affect you?" as if these events exist in a vacuum, the more it will happen. There's a whitewashing of history and language to try and appease this loud minority of people who desperately try to be insulted by everything. Getting insulted by the terms master and slave when you are a highly-paid engineer in Twitter is a conscious decision. If you are that high in that field, you know it's not a racial thing.

    And it is a slippery slope. As evidenced by people in this thread who never thought about this stuff before but now support the terms' removal. I can't believe we're living in a time where "whitelist" is problematic because it's a positive thing containing the word white.

    Seriously, how can you not grasp such a simple fcuking element of this.

    The word white is being removed because it implies that a white appearance is a more desirable physical attribute than other colours. Not because the very word itself is evil.

    If some people put 10% of the time they put in to getting outraged in to understanding the root cause, it would be a lot less stressful for everyone.


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Seriously, how can you not grasp such a simple fcuking element of this.

    The word white is being removed because it implies that a white appearance is a more desirable physical attribute than other colours. Not because the very word itself is evil.

    If some people put 10% of the time they put in to getting outraged in to understanding the root cause, it would be a lot less stressful for everyone.

    Why is it wrong for a white appearance, ie. lighter skin, to be more desirable?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    It has absolutely nothing to do with black people .

    Hmmm maybe i could sell some to white people then.
    Why is it wrong for a white appearance, ie. lighter skin, to be more desirable?

    Its idolatry.

    Also it makes white guys in Asia think they have a chance ..i think that false hope is cruel.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,940 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    Why is it wrong for a white appearance, ie. lighter skin, to be more desirable?

    I can't believe I have to spoon feed this to you.

    Because it encourages those from other races to feel their appearance is inferior. That they are inferior.


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Hmmm maybe i could sell some to white people then.



    Its idolatry.

    Also it makes white guys in Asia think they have a chance ..i think that false hope is cruel.

    Completely and utterly clueless. It has nothing do with white people.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,693 ✭✭✭2u2me


    All because darker skin has been made less desirable.

    I walk past a sunbed shop most days and there was never a shortage of customers.(Prior to the lockdown).

    It's about attaining a standard of beauty that one doesn't have, and giving Nivea your money to achieve that. If you are black you need to get more white, if you are white you need to get more black.


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  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I can't believe I have to spoon feed this to you.

    Because it encourages those from other races to feel their appearance is inferior. That they are inferior.

    And you tell me that I should do some research and find the root cause.

    Dark skin is associated with working the fields. When my Asian students mock the kid with dark skin, it's about that. Light skin is seen as being a higher class in society.

    If you think it has anything to do with race, you have simply no idea what on Earth you're talking about. Talk about being so up your own arse that you think Asian people using whitening cream do it to look like you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    2u2me wrote: »
    I walk past a sunbed shop most days and there was never a shortage of customers.(Prior to the lockdown).

    It's about attaining a standard of beauty that one doesn't have, and giving Nivea your money to achieve that. If you are black you need to get more white, if you are white you need to get more black.

    YAY MORE SKINCANCER!


    So you think because there is a sunbed near you that racism doesn't exist got it....glad we cleared this up.

    I feel enlightened.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    And you tell me that I should do some research and find the root cause.

    Dark skin is associated with working the fields. When my Asian students mock the kid with dark skin, it's about that. Light skin is seen as being a higher class in society.

    If you think it has anything to do with race, you have simply no idea what on Earth you're talking about. Talk about being so up your own arse that you think Asian people using whitening cream do it to look like you.


    Also ...all magazines go for lighter skin ..'whiter' skin.


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Also ...all magazines go for lighter skin ..'whiter' skin.

    It has nothing to do with race. Why are you trying to make it out to be so?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,202 ✭✭✭✭ILoveYourVibes


    It's the same with the topic of this thread. It's applying age old terms to a modern social schism.
    The title of this thread refers to something that isn't even going to happen.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,693 ✭✭✭2u2me


    YAY MORE SKINCANCER!


    So you think because there is a sunbed near you that racism doesn't exist got it....glad we cleared this up.

    I feel enlightened.

    Not just one sunbed, the place has about 10 and the queue out the door most days is pretty large.

    To contrast this in China and especially Japan for centuries affluent people stayed indoors and under shade to keep their skin fairer.

    To have tanned skin was associated with working the fields, being of a lower class.

    It's not always 'because racism'.


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  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    The title of this thread refers to something that isn't even going to happen.

    I don't understand why you think it's not going to happen. I doubt BBC and CNN are just making this up out of thin air.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,940 ✭✭✭✭Tell me how


    And you tell me that I should do some research and find the root cause.

    Dark skin is associated with working the fields. When my Asian students mock the kid with dark skin, it's about that. Light skin is seen as being a higher class in society.

    If you think it has anything to do with race, you have simply no idea what on Earth you're talking about. Talk about being so up your own arse that you think Asian people using whitening cream do it to look like you.

    So you are saying you have first hand experience of where people are mocked because of their skin colour but you needed to have a step by step explanation as to why the word white is an issue on skin care products?

    I'm out.


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    So you are saying you have first hand experience of where people are mocked because of their skin colour but you needed to have a step by step explanation as to why the word white is an issue on skin care products?

    I'm out.

    Skin tone, not skin colour. Just admit you thought it was about looking more Caucasian and now you're out because you realise it's not.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,693 ✭✭✭2u2me


    Skin tone, not skin colour. Just admit you thought it was about looking more Caucasian and now you're out because you realise it's not.

    Just like spray-tan and sunbeds aren't the same as blackface :pac:


  • Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    2u2me wrote: »
    Just like spray-tan and sunbeds aren't the same as blackface :pac:

    And you don't even have to look to other races to understand. White aristocracy maintained light skin because dark skin was associated with work.

    It is so uniquely white to look at these things and think it's about race. Tell me how thinks an Asian person's standard of beauty is based on feeling inferior to Caucasians. It's absurd. As if Asian people give a toss about white people.

    The word "master" is now being associated with white slave owner. Github is changing it as well so it will be called "Main". What's next, the word "owner"? It's unbelievably stupid so there's actually a chance.

    Mastercard must be bricking it.


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