Sunday, November 30, 2003

NAUGHTY COMPUTERS

The ‘N’ word has been abolished. Is “slave” next?

A county official has asked computer and video equipment vendors to consider eliminating the terms "master" and "slave" from equipment because they may be considered offensive. "Based on the cultural diversity and sensitivity of Los Angeles County, this is not an acceptable identification label," according to an email sent to vendors on November 18. The memo asks manufacturers, suppliers and contractors to change or remove any labels on components "that could be interpreted as discriminatory or offensive in nature". The county's 39 departments also were told to identify equipment with offensive labels.

The term "master" and "slave" - when applied to electronic equipment - describes one device controlling another.

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