Posted on 12/03/2004 8:12:38 AM PST by lindor
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The computer term "master/slave," which was banned as racially offensive by a Los Angeles County purchasing department, was named the most politically incorrect term of the year on Thursday.
Among other terms on the top 10 list of politically charged words and phrases, issued by the word usage group Global Language Monitor, were "non-same sex marriage" to describe heterosexual unions, "waitron" for waiter or waitress and "higher being" for God, a term some people found too religious.
"We found 'master/slave' to be the most egregious example of political correctness in 2004," said Paul JJ Payack, president of The Global Language Monitor.
"This is but one more example of the insertion of politics into every facet of modern life, down to the level of the control processes of computer technology."
In computer terminology, "master/slave" refers to primary and secondary hard disk drives. But a Los Angeles county purchasing department told vendors in late 2003 that the term was offensive and violated the region's cultural diversity. The county's department of affirmative action undertook a hunt to replace it on packages.
After a public uproar, the county backed down. Payack said that while the incident took place in late 2003, debate about it grew enormously in 2004.
The phrase "non-same sex marriage," was used by a former congressman who did not want to offend gay people by using the term traditional marriage, Payack said.
Also on the list this year were "Red Sox lover," to use in place of "Yankee hater," "progressive" for classical liberal, "incurious" rather than more impolite invectives for President Bush, "insurgents" instead of terrorists in Iraq, "baristas" for waiters, and "first year student" rather than freshman.
Waitron??
What's next; daisy chain?
>:)
Safe to say that the San Francisco leather bars will ignore that.
Someone needs to explain how "Master/Slave" is a racial term.
Cars with Master cylinders support slavery.
Do you really not know?
Not being a Democrat, I'm pretty dumb. So I would be pleased if you would explain it to me.
Do people actually get paid to sit around and think this stuff up?
bump
I agree. What kind of intellectual moron would automatically conclude the "Master/Slave" relationship is based on race? There have been more Muslims and Christians enslaved by other Muslims and Christians than white enslaving blacks. This is just Liberal Turd Fact (LTF) 10.
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
It's only politically incorrect if you arent referring to something perverted.
"You people" better be careful. Got that boy?
I am so politically incorrect I offend myself.
Keeping your reputation as sensitive and tolerant, I see.
;-)
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