Girl Geekette

Item(s): Every CD  Drive, Hardrive, DVD drive and IDE device bought before 2005.

Reason: IDE chains use computer terminology to note  if the device attached it is main or secondary device. These devices and packaging may contain the term "Master" (indicating First)  or "Slave" (indicating Second) on them to determine the order that must be set to, to function in a computer.

***WARNING*** 
Some people might find the use of the term "Master" and "Slave" offensive when the words are used when referring to computers..

Action taken: A RECALL of every single package and device with these offensive terms - "Master" and/or "Slave" written on them.

Who is affected? Any person with a computer.

Although this is a fictional recall, the idea is based on a true-to-life ruling made in Los Angeles, California by a Los Angels County Purchasing Department in the latter months of 2003. The term(s) master/slave were deemed "offensive" and "violated the region’s cultural diversity". This county’s department even went so far as to begin a hunt to replace packages with the "offinsive" terminology on them. During 2004, this debate has become a well-known one to many. On Thursday, December 2nd, 2004, the term for the IDE devices - "Master/Slave" - was named the most politically incorrect term of the year.

   Editor’s note: Personally, I find it offensive that someone else can ban a computer technology term - that has been around for decades - by telling me it is now considered offensive to people of other occupations! 
 
I do not regulate how Surgeons and people of Medical occupations must define human body parts - because it may offend me. I do not tell Attorney’s that their contortions of the English language offend me and ban terminology used in their practice. *1

In the Southern US, it is polite practice to say "Yes, Ma’am" or "Yes Sir" when replying Yes or No. In the Northern US, it is considered rude to say "Ma’am" or "Sir", but are the words publicly banned and forbidden to be used? In the Southern US, Soda, Pop, Fountain drinks and bottled/canned drinks are referred to as a "Coke" or "Cokes". Moving up north, you can hear the same drinks referred to as "Pops" or "Sodas". So, do we ban the name "Coke" because "Coke" is also an illegal drug? 

Why has computer technology come under such fire? Are politics going to go so far as to replace even commands/programs on Unix or Linux Operating Systems because the name of the programs or commands offend others? "Grep", "Finger", "Mount" and other terms are used to define the name of the process to be run. "Grep" can be related to Window’s "Search" function. "Finger" is a way of identifying a system on a network remotely. "Mount" is a command used to add a device to usability status (Such as giving permission for a CD Device to function to read CD’s - you "mount" the CD-ROM). Must every operating system in existence and in use by every person, governmental facility and every politician be confiscated and re-written so as not to offend anyone?

How do you not offend everyone? I am offended that someone would regulate my terminology with computers - and that same group probably does not even do more with a computer than email and surf the web! Do politicians have enough information about how these terms are used and what it means before he or she passes judgment to deem something "offensive"?   If you do not know all about it, how can you judge it for everyone? Are these really the people we want speaking for us?

*1 These comments in no way or form apply to Surgeons or Attorneys. It was merely an example used to stress a point. No offense meant