Master and Slave - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Downtownat10 · 11-26-2003, 11:49 AM

Give this a quick read, and let me know what you think.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/1...eut/index.html

And for the Non-Clickers.....

Quote:

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Los Angeles officials have asked that manufacturers, suppliers and contractors stop using the terms "master" and "slave" on computer equipment, saying such terms are unacceptable and offensive.

The request -- which has some suppliers furious and others busy re-labeling components -- came after an unidentified worker spotted a videotape machine carrying devices labeled "master" and "slave" and filed a discrimination complaint with the county's Office of Affirmative Action Compliance.

In the computer industry, "master" and "slave" are used to refer to primary and secondary hard disk drives. The terms are also used in other industries.

"Based on the cultural diversity and sensitivity of Los Angeles County, this is not an acceptable identification label," Joe Sandoval, division manager of purchasing and contract services, said in a memo sent to County vendors.

"We would request that each manufacturer, supplier and contractor review, identify and remove/change any identification or labeling of equipment components that could be interpreted as discriminatory or offensive in nature," Sandoval said in the memo, which was distributed last week and made available to Reuters.

The memo did not include any suggestions for alternative labels.

Dennis Tafoya, director of the affirmative action office, said in a separate memo that an "exhaustive search" had been undertaken to find all such labels and replace them with more "appropriate" ones. A form was sent to all departments to identify equipment carrying the labels "master" and "slave" or any other offensive terms.

Faced with an avalanche of complaints from vendors and the general public, Sandoval told Reuters in an interview that his memo was intended as "nothing more than a request" and not an ultimatum or policy change.

"I do understand that this term has been an industry standard for years and years and this is nothing more than a plea to vendors to see what they can do," he said. "It appears that some folks have taken this a little too literally."

Sandoval said that he had already rejected a suggestion that the county stop buying all equipment carrying the "master" and "slave" labels and had no intention of enforcing a ban on such terms with suppliers.

"But we are culturally sensitive and we have 90,000 employees," he said. "We have to take these things seriously."

Sandoval added that in addition to the e-mails he's received "telling me how stupid I am and how I should be fired" he has gotten a positive response from some companies willing to reexamine their labels.

In June, the Los Angeles city council unanimously passed a law requiring that any companies doing business with the city disclose profits they may have made from slavery in the 19th Century. In 2000, the council supported federal legislation seeking reparations for descendants of slaves.

Anyone?

Redlemon · 11-26-2003, 11:53 AM

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, this has been posted already. Look here in TFP computers.

Mojo_PeiPei · 11-26-2003, 12:11 PM

I thinks it ridiculous and truly shows how PC'ness has run amok.

Phaenx · 11-26-2003, 01:05 PM

Lets move America and not tell these people where we went.

Political Correctness is probably going to be about as close to killing free speech as we're going to get, if groups like the ACLU and NAACP doesn't succeed. What the PC movement takes from you isn't really slanderous, nor is it destructive, at most it hurts peoples feelings. But there are people who have decided the right to free speech isn't as important as the feelings of these emotionally imbalanced people.

Go figure.

saline · 11-26-2003, 04:09 PM

Show me where in that article either the ACLU or the NAACP get involved? This was an action taken by a municipality and it's far less significant than most people make it out to be. Note, no law was passed, it was a suggestion. In addition it's a suggestion with essentially no enforcement behind it in any way.

So lets go back to square one and begin again. How is this restricting people's speech? To me, it's not, conservatives just like to throw hyperbole around when talking about race.

It's somewhat unfortunate that this phraseology is appropriate but the way two drives work together, it is. The better solution is to just develop a slightly different terminology, oh wait, it's already been done. Many people just refer to their primary, secondary and so on drives.

juanvaldes · 11-26-2003, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by redlemon
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, this has been posted already. Look here in TFP computers.

11-26-2003, 11:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, this has been posted already. Look here in TFP computers. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry. Last edited by redlemon; 11-26-2003 at 11:55 AM..

11-26-2003, 12:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mojo_PeiPei Kiss of Death Location: Perpetual wind and sorrow	I thinks it ridiculous and truly shows how PC'ness has run amok. __________________ To win a war you must serve no master but your ambition.

11-26-2003, 01:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	Lets move America and not tell these people where we went. Political Correctness is probably going to be about as close to killing free speech as we're going to get, if groups like the ACLU and NAACP doesn't succeed. What the PC movement takes from you isn't really slanderous, nor is it destructive, at most it hurts peoples feelings. But there are people who have decided the right to free speech isn't as important as the feelings of these emotionally imbalanced people. Go figure. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy

11-26-2003, 04:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
saline Upright Location: where ever help is needed	ACLU Show me where in that article either the ACLU or the NAACP get involved? This was an action taken by a municipality and it's far less significant than most people make it out to be. Note, no law was passed, it was a suggestion. In addition it's a suggestion with essentially no enforcement behind it in any way. So lets go back to square one and begin again. How is this restricting people's speech? To me, it's not, conservatives just like to throw hyperbole around when talking about race. It's somewhat unfortunate that this phraseology is appropriate but the way two drives work together, it is. The better solution is to just develop a slightly different terminology, oh wait, it's already been done. Many people just refer to their primary, secondary and so on drives. __________________ "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." "A riot is the language of the unheard." "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." "The time is always right to do what is right. " "One who condones evils is just as guilty as the one who perpetrates it." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.