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http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/m...reut/index.html

QUOTE

'Master' and 'slave' computer labels unacceptable, officials say Wednesday, November 26, 2003 Posted: 3:24 PM EST (2024 GMT) LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Los Angeles officials have asked that manufacturers, suppliers and contractors stop using the terms "master" and "slave" on computer equipment, saying such terms are unacceptable and offensive. The request -- which has some suppliers furious and others busy re-labeling components -- came after an unidentified worker spotted a videotape machine carrying devices labeled "master" and "slave" and filed a discrimination complaint with the county's Office of Affirmative Action Compliance. In the computer industry, "master" and "slave" are used to refer to primary and secondary hard disk drives. The terms are also used in other industries. "Based on the cultural diversity and sensitivity of Los Angeles County, this is not an acceptable identification label," Joe Sandoval, division manager of purchasing and contract services, said in a memo sent to County vendors. "We would request that each manufacturer, supplier and contractor review, identify and remove/change any identification or labeling of equipment components that could be interpreted as discriminatory or offensive in nature," Sandoval said in the memo, which was distributed last week and made available to Reuters. The memo did not include any suggestions for alternative labels. Dennis Tafoya, director of the affirmative action office, said in a separate memo that an "exhaustive search" had been undertaken to find all such labels and replace them with more "appropriate" ones. A form was sent to all departments to identify equipment carrying the labels "master" and "slave" or any other offensive terms. Faced with an avalanche of complaints from vendors and the general public, Sandoval told Reuters in an interview that his memo was intended as "nothing more than a request" and not an ultimatum or policy change. "I do understand that this term has been an industry standard for years and years and this is nothing more than a plea to vendors to see what they can do," he said. "It appears that some folks have taken this a little too literally." Sandoval said that he had already rejected a suggestion that the county stop buying all equipment carrying the "master" and "slave" labels and had no intention of enforcing a ban on such terms with suppliers. "But we are culturally sensitive and we have 90,000 employees," he said. "We have to take these things seriously." Sandoval added that in addition to the e-mails he's received "telling me how stupid I am and how I should be fired" he has gotten a positive response from some companies willing to reexamine their labels. In June, the Los Angeles city council unanimously passed a law requiring that any companies doing business with the city disclose profits they may have made from slavery in the 19th Century. In 2000, the council supported federal legislation seeking reparations for descendants of slaves.

I can't believe there are stupid people taking this too literally...

some people are just retarded, its just publicity thing

w3rd that articles just stupid

OMG, these terms have been around since drives have been in existance, i cant belive how stupid people r

people need to find a different way to raise there self-esteem

pc does not stand for politically correct people. jesus man people will b*tch about anything nowadays

its always "politically correct" god so annyoing!

F**k i hate stupid people =[

Why are there so many stupid people out there?

haha what idiots.

some people are messed in the head

ghey hippe liberals

nah liberals aren't gay, but yeah, hippies are.

haha me and my friends used to always make fun of that slave master shit way back when

oh, and down with the two party system!

Damn ninkompoops...

*Beavis and Butthead laugh*

Huh-huh...You said "poop"...Huh-huh...