[llvm-dev] Inclusive language in LLVM: can we rename `master` branch?

[antlists via llvm-dev]

On 19/06/2020 12:56, Renato Golin via llvm-dev wrote:
> I never associated any of those words with their negative
> connotations, either, but this is because of my upbringing and some of
> the privileges I enjoy from our broken society.
> 
> I always associated the word "master" as reverential, like with
> martial arts, Jedi kind of thing. And to me, "white" and "black" (on
> list, hat) had to do with day and night (when the monsters come out).
> 
> But I'm also painfully aware that small amends to our mental model
> could improve the lives of many people. Every little bit counts.

AOL.

As an *English* speaker (as in "not American"), I also see "master" as - 
not exactly reverential - but as a leader (or a youngster - the 
diminutive of Mister).

And reading the link against it, almost the first post I read was an 
African American saying that a lot of this was totally irrelevant to 
him, and was a lot of white people speaking on his behalf without 
actually bothering to ask him what *he* wanted.

If changing terminology makes things clearer (and I think it does here, 
especially for non-native speakers), then I'm all for it, but not just 
because the Americans are trying to solve their political angst.

ALL words have overtones, and all the variations of 
English/American/Strine/Pidgin/Whatever-else-I-can't-name make life very 
difficult. I was never able to participate properly when the subject of 
race came up on Groklaw - "black" was seen as an offensive and banned 
word, and of course I can't use the phrase "African American". The 
equivalent here if I said "African Brit" stinks of an accusation of "you 
traitor!" They're not Africans, they're Caribbeans or Nigerians, or or 
or. And many Africans are White South Africans, and some Caribbeans 
(like me) are also white.

How many people here remember Michael Portillo's "Cricket Test" for 
whether you are English (the joke here being *he* was of Spanish descent).

So please do things for sound *technical* reasons, and sod the 
Politically Correct. That's usually an excuse for oppression by the 
Morally Superior.

Cheers,
Wol