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Subject:RE: Replacing "master" and "slave" terminology From:<richard -dot- melanson -at- us -dot- tel -dot- com> To:<Darren -dot- Butler -dot- ctr -at- Robins -dot- af -dot- mil>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:18:11 -0400
Thank you for this post Darin. I, personally, respect and appreciate what you have stated.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+richard -dot- melanson=us -dot- tel -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+richard -dot- melanson=us -dot- tel -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Butler,Darren J CTR USAF AFMC 584 CBSS/GBHAC
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 12:12 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Replacing "master" and "slave" terminology
My fellow Tech Comms,
Political Correctness in TW'ing is a bottomless pit.
I've tried manfully (person-fully?) to ignore the subject, but as one whose self esteem might be "damaged" by these "oppressive" terms, I gotta weigh-in on this one.
My profession is Technical Writing/Editing; my heritage is both African
*and* Hebrew; and I was born and raised below the U.S. Mason-Dixon Line.
The words "Master" and "Slave" - when used as technical terms - have NEVER......EVER conjured up images of whips, chains, picking cotton or building pyramids. I feel extremely patronized when someone considers my skin to be so thin that such widely and historically accepted technical terms as these would be offensive to me. Any technical author who went through some of the contortions discussed in this thread - however well-intentioned - to avoid being "insulting" would produce the opposite result in my case and many others.
If Engineers were designing "Evil Oppressor Cylinders" and "Disenfranchised Victim Cylinders" - well yes, I'd have a problem with that, because it was both insulting and silly.
There are exceptions of course, such as gender neutrality, but even that can get off in the weeds sometimes. I do agree that writing with cultural understanding and common sense should govern, but for me, "PC"
stands for either Proper Communication or Poor Communication; anything else does not belong in the realm of technical communication.
Thank to Yves Jeaurond, for reminding us that a word does not have the same value in every topic. If anyone should understand this fact it'd Technical Wordsmiths. Thank to John Posada, for reminding us where our bread ($$) is buttered.
Respectfully,
Darren J. Butler
Senior Technical Publications Specialist
NG Corp
-----Original Message-----
From:
techwr-l-bounces+darren -dot- butler -dot- ctr=robins -dot- af -dot- mil -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+darren -dot- butler -dot- ctr=robins -dot- af -dot- mil -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot-
com] On Behalf Of Abels, Marci A [NTK]
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 9:49 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Replacing "master" and "slave" terminology
I agree that master/slave is a good description, but, as pointed out here already, it will get in the way of good communication for some of the audience. I have used manager/contributor to describe this relationship.
Marci Abels | Technical Writer II
Process Development & Documentation Center (PDDC)
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Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
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