'Master' and 'slave' computer labels unacceptable,

[Guest Jimbo]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/m...reut/index.html

 

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.

 

yeeesh....

[Guest Choken One]

well...Sid is just FUCKED.

 

Next I'm sure they'll put a ban on Depends.

[Anakin Flair 0]

what about all of thosesado-masochists out there? I'm sure they don't mind those terms.

[Guest Choken One]

there are about 292 different ways to use those two words in context...

[Guest Fook]

My only question is, who is offended by lables on computer equipment?

[justsoyouknow 0]

My monitor here at work says "Emachines"......clearly, the capitalized "E" is a reference to Ecstasy. I'm filing a complaint.

[Downhome 0]

Fuck PC twats.

 

Or just beat em bloody, whatever.

[Slayer 0]

From now on, my "slave" drive will be referred to as my "indentured servant" drive

[The Czech Republic 0]

The PCization of "slave," going by my American Studies textbook from last year, is "enslaved person."

[Perfxion 0]

As a black person, I find this to be stupid overly PC and disrespectful.

 

As an everyday human, I find this to be stupid, overly PC, and disrespectful.

 

As a person who works on PCs, I don't give a shit what the name of the drives, as long as the shit works, I am happy.

[Tawren 0]

People are so fucking whiny.

 

BTW, I bought a black computer from Dell. If I sued them...I'd win.

[Steviekick 0]

What's next they complain about male and female plugs because of the ever changing gender roles?

[Dr. Tom 0]

What's next they complain about male and female plugs because of the ever changing gender roles?

Heh. Probably, just give it time. The women's movement will change what we now call male plugs into "potential rapist plugs," and female plugs will become "victim sockets." And then I will go on a throat-slitting rampage at how stupid and PC our society has become.

[Slayer 0]

The women's movement will change what we now call male plugs into "potential rapist plugs," and female plugs will become "victim sockets."

"She wanted to be plugged! Did you see the design she had around her?

 

Plus she's been plugged before by at least twenty other different appliances."