L.A. Wants to End 'Master' and 'Slave' Equipment

Doglips · 11-26-2003, 12:23 PM

a PC "PC" give me a break.

L.A. Wants to End 'Master' and 'Slave' Equipment
Wed November 26, 2003 08:04 AM ET

By Dan Whitcomb
LOS ANGELES (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.

© Reuters 2003. All Rights Reserved.

junkie · 11-26-2003, 01:39 PM

what a crock

11-26-2003, 01:41 PM

Yeah this is just stupid. Figures its from California.

PAPA G · 11-26-2003, 02:52 PM

yeah, TOFU in TOFU out
rainbow coalition ribbon cable
small fury mammal (mouse)
Viagra for floppy disk's, so they don't feel inferior to "hard" drives
Johnny has two daddies to replace mother boards
rearranged keyboard lettering for the dsylexic user
rename computer ports to "thunderbird openings" for those who cannot afford better (wino reguest)

David N · 11-26-2003, 09:30 PM

Just imagine what they'll do when they get around to electrical cords or plumbing parts that have male and female ends. They'll have a coronary.

Rufus Rhastus J · 11-28-2003, 08:56 AM

It's getting down right stupid, these whiners. I would be ashamed to cry about something like this. You, know folks, it's just too darn hard to be PC. There is just too much to consider and too many groups to worry about offending. Why bother? None of them will be happy no matter what you do anyway. The only thing that will shut them up is if the shame is too much. So, I propose that, instead of caveing to their demands, why not laugh at them publicly? Maybe then, they will see how sick and tired we all are of the PC crowd. I know we have a large PC crowd here and no insult was intended. Everyone knows there are times we have to speak PC to keep in good graces.:nod:

alan c. · 11-28-2003, 09:43 AM

How about vehicles with Master cylinders or Slave cylinders.

alan c. · 11-28-2003, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David N
Just imagine what they'll do when they get around to electrical cords or plumbing parts that have male and female ends. They'll have a coronary.

Let's see if they can figure out how to connect lesbian or gay ends together.

NRAJOE · 11-28-2003, 10:29 AM

Just change the names to "Honkie" and "Oppressed"...

toolman · 11-28-2003, 10:33 AM

Personally, I'm offended that they're forcing other people to conform to their idiotic B.S.!

Rufus Rhastus J · 11-28-2003, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by alan c.
Let's see if they can figure out how to connect lesbian or gay ends together.

Dang, they got to have problems with that! Haaaa!!!

DANA · 11-28-2003, 12:50 PM

WE USE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY

DANA

Oxford · 11-28-2003, 01:23 PM

In the field of metalworking there's a layout tool called "hemaphrodite caliper." It has one divider point and one outside caliper leg. Where does this PC BS stop? :nod:

Rufus Rhastus J · 11-29-2003, 07:35 AM

It doesn't stop. There are too many special people out there who need/want their 15 minutes of fame. And, don't forget, each one has been wronged by someone. And, it's all your fault! Now, I ask you, do you feel the appropriate level of quilt for what you, and the rest of us, have done?:nod:

If your answer is "yes", then you will go far in the world of PC! and, if your answer is "NO", well, I guess you need more liberal arts training and exposure to the basics of PC!

Primary and secondary, i like that. Wonder if the PC judges will allow it.......:nod: :nod:

Doglips · 11-29-2003, 09:13 PM

Thats RIGHT NRAJOE QUIT CALLING HI-Points UGLY ...they are asteticaly challanged

Guns have feelings tooo (thats why guns commit crimes to express themselfs).

Chris · 11-29-2003, 09:19 PM

I hope no one drives a straight drive out there.

11-26-2003, 12:23 PM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	L.A. Wants to End 'Master' and 'Slave' Equipment a PC "PC" give me a break. L.A. Wants to End 'Master' and 'Slave' Equipment Wed November 26, 2003 08:04 AM ET By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES (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. © Reuters 2003. All Rights Reserved.

11-26-2003, 09:30 PM	#5
David N Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 198	Just imagine what they'll do when they get around to electrical cords or plumbing parts that have male and female ends. They'll have a coronary. __________________ -- In Educatio Veritas est, In Veritas Lux est (In knowledge is truth, in truth is light)

11-28-2003, 08:56 AM	#6
Rufus Rhastus J Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West, Central Florida, Third World America Posts: 6,339 Images: 1	Haaaa!!! Anything to get attention.... It's getting down right stupid, these whiners. I would be ashamed to cry about something like this. You, know folks, it's just too darn hard to be PC. There is just too much to consider and too many groups to worry about offending. Why bother? None of them will be happy no matter what you do anyway. The only thing that will shut them up is if the shame is too much. So, I propose that, instead of caveing to their demands, why not laugh at them publicly? Maybe then, they will see how sick and tired we all are of the PC crowd. I know we have a large PC crowd here and no insult was intended. Everyone knows there are times we have to speak PC to keep in good graces.:nod: __________________ "They cannot be trusted.....The Romulans (our politicos) are without honor." Worf

11-28-2003, 10:29 AM	#9
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,043 Images: 3	Just change the names to "Honkie" and "Oppressed"... __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

11-28-2003, 10:33 AM	#10
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,566 Blog Entries: 22	Personally, I'm offended that they're forcing other people to conform to their idiotic B.S.! __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

11-26-2003, 01:39 PM	#2
junkie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 174	what a crock

11-26-2003, 01:41 PM	#3
Lenny2 Guest Posts: n/a	Yeah this is just stupid. Figures its from California.

11-26-2003, 02:52 PM	#4
PAPA G Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: somerset, kentucky Posts: 12	yeah, TOFU in TOFU out rainbow coalition ribbon cable small fury mammal (mouse) Viagra for floppy disk's, so they don't feel inferior to "hard" drives Johnny has two daddies to replace mother boards rearranged keyboard lettering for the dsylexic user rename computer ports to "thunderbird openings" for those who cannot afford better (wino reguest)

11-28-2003, 09:43 AM	#7
alan c. Banned Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pasadena,Tejas - also known as Texas Posts: 3,767 Images: 15	How about vehicles with Master cylinders or Slave cylinders.

11-28-2003, 12:50 PM	#12
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,595	WE USE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DANA

11-28-2003, 01:23 PM	#13
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,022 Blog Entries: 4	In the field of metalworking there's a layout tool called "hemaphrodite caliper." It has one divider point and one outside caliper leg. Where does this PC BS stop? :nod: __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

11-29-2003, 07:35 AM	#14
Rufus Rhastus J Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West, Central Florida, Third World America Posts: 6,339 Images: 1	Well, errr, uh...... It doesn't stop. There are too many special people out there who need/want their 15 minutes of fame. And, don't forget, each one has been wronged by someone. And, it's all your fault! Now, I ask you, do you feel the appropriate level of quilt for what you, and the rest of us, have done?:nod: If your answer is "yes", then you will go far in the world of PC! and, if your answer is "NO", well, I guess you need more liberal arts training and exposure to the basics of PC! Primary and secondary, i like that. Wonder if the PC judges will allow it.......:nod: :nod: __________________ "They cannot be trusted.....The Romulans (our politicos) are without honor." Worf

11-29-2003, 09:13 PM	#15
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	Thats RIGHT NRAJOE QUIT CALLING HI-Points UGLY ...they are asteticaly challanged Guns have feelings tooo (thats why guns commit crimes to express themselfs).

11-29-2003, 09:19 PM	#16
Chris HMFIC Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,834,165 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 18	I hope no one drives a straight drive out there. __________________ Rules \| Contributing Members No one has the right to deny my personal safety Please be descriptive in your thread titles!