Are computer terms offensive?

[kopilo]

There has been a few things stated about IT terminology as far as how offensive they are.

Consider if you will that devices in computers can be set to be a slave or master, there is client/server networks and male/female connectors (just to name a few things).

For some corporations it seems so.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/master.term.reut/index.html
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3607049/

What I want to know is what do you think? If a device on a computer has settings of master and slave, is this offensive?

 

[DaRkWoLf]

Ive never been offended by the terms.

 

[Mling]

No problem with with slave/master, considering they're machines. As for male/female--that seems fairly standard. I've seen it describing craft tools and hardware also. It's a convenient way to describe things.

 

[Soul Searcher]

I see nothing offensive about the terms.

 

[Battie]

I've never been offended by any of it. I also don't even want to think about the confusion if we suddenly changed the terms. It's hard enough translating computerese to users without having to make up euphamisms to use with our fellow IT workers.

 

[Ave Maria]

I've also never been offended by computer terms.

 

[OdwinOddball]

Anyone who gets upset by terminlogy such as slave and master in the computer world, needs to reach being them, take a firm hold of the stick and pull really hard.

 

[levi501]

I agree it's very offensive...

That's why they should be changed to "Massa" and "Toby" instead.

 

[MoonlessNight]

I'm glad that no one actually sees this as offensive. I mean, what would be next, objecting to calling words "masucline" and "feminine" (in linguistical terms)?

 

[Caylin]

I agree it's very offensive...

That's why they should be changed to "Massa" and "Toby" instead.

I totally agree. I also think male/female should be changed to "appointed head of household" and "charged with submission."

 

[Blackguard_]

totally agree. I also think male/female should be changed to "appointed head of household" and "charged with submission."

nah, considering the people who would be offended by these terms, "rapist" and "strong indepandant woman who doesn't need a man" would be more appropriate.

 

[flicka]

That's why they should be changed to "Massa" and "Toby" instead.

O-M-G

 

[Battie]

nah, considering the people who would be offended by these terms, "rapist" and "strong indepandant woman who doesn't need a man" would be more appropriate.

Lol. Seriously, what would we do?

"Hey, boss--I need a VGA cable with the pointy bits on one end and holes on the other... No, no. You gave me the wrong one. This has pointy bits on both ends. It's a gay cable."

 

[DailyBlessings]

Some people have very thin skin... I approve of such discussions if they effectively call attention to a social problem, but I doubt slavery will come to an end because we changed some hardware names. I do find it interesting that our technology is imbued with so much religious symbolism and terminology.

My former dormmates tell this funny story about me and a female-female connector, which I won't elaborate on except to say that I meant it perfectly innocently.

 

[yasic]

I personally would go with "male" and "dishwasher"

 

[TricksterWolf]

There has been a few things stated about IT terminology as far as how offensive they are.

Consider if you will that devices in computers can be set to be a slave or master, there is client/server networks and male/female connectors (just to name a few things).

For some corporations it seems so.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/master.term.reut/index.html
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3607049/

What I want to know is what do you think? If a device on a computer has settings of master and slave, is this offensive?

I don't mind. I think master/slave is a little more on the edge than male/female, but they seem neutral enough to me. I can see master/slave possibly changing someday, if there's a simple term that can replace them. I'd prefer "master/pet" actually. For some people, the term "slave" is mildly perjorative and unnecessary.

So no, I don't care personally, but I wouldn't mind a slight change to get rid of "slave" if I were asked to. I try to flex.

Trickster

 

[TricksterWolf]

My former dormmates tell this funny story about me and a female-female connector, which I won't elaborate on except to say that I meant it perfectly innocently.

I was speaking with my advisor last year about research involving vocal samples of women and men. In recommending a plan of action, he said, "Now what we can do is lay the man on top of the woman," referring to the data. I snickered, and when he realized what he'd said we both cracked up.

Trickster

 

[Ampoliros]

Its not offensive. These are just technical terms for differentiating whats occurring. Heck, its entirely possible to swap the two (to some extent).

Although, I'm sure people who were offended at this were shocked when confronted with the resistor color codes, in which black stands for zero and white stands for nine. Some people panic over the silliest things...

 

[Battie]

People also freak out over certain *nix terms. There are daemons, processes are killed, and children die!

 

[kopilo]

LOL, mmm and the kernal is not very nice.