MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-11-26 |
| FROM | Michael Richardson
|
| SUBJECT | RE: [hangout] 'Master' and 'slave' computer labels unacceptable, officials say
|
Does this fall under rewriting history?
-----Original Message-----
From: Inker, Evan [mailto:EInker-at-gam.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2003 12:36 PM
To: hangout-at-nylxs.com
Subject: [hangout] 'Master' and 'slave' computer labels unacceptable,
officials say
This is the Ultimate in Stupidity and Moronic Thought.....
'Master' and 'slave' computer labels unacceptable, officials say
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/master.term.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.
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NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
____________________________
NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
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