[NFB-Web] Terminology shift

Tue Jul 7 06:12:36 UTC 2020

One would be led to believe there have never been black webmasters. There
have been. One would also be led to believe black home owners have never
referred to their private quarters as a master suite. They've done so. If
we're going to be purists about it, then the current terminology is actually
accurate, because there was such a thing as black slave owners in American
history. In truth, most black people likely don't give a second thought to
the master reference. The strive for greater political correctness is likely
an offspring of a hyperactive feeling of white guilt. It's great to think
flipping around a few common terms will fix the problem of racism. It
doesn't. What's more likely is that the differences between white people are
far more prominent than the actual differences between whites and the black
people they're trying to advocate. The current debate is case in point. I
don't much care what references are adopted. I'll adjust to whatever the
group decides no matter how silly I find the new norm. I'll do my part to
change racism by treating my black friends and encounters with black people
in general as fair and as equal as anyone else. That's genuine change, not
lip service. Regardless, I hope the web meeting during convention is about
our systems and not about the phrase of the day. There's plenty of diversity
coverage elsewhere on the convention agenda. I'm not trying to tell anyone
how to run their meeting, but just laying down my twenty dollar's worth.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Web <nfb-web-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Bryan Schulz via
NFB-Web
Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2020 12:10 AM
To: 'NFB Webmaster's List' <nfb-web at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bryan Schulz <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [NFB-Web] Terminology shift

Hi,

I've tried to remain silent but this is pure pc crap!
I never thought a webmaster owned slaves!
The best post on face book I have seen was if you need to place a color in
front of lives matter then you are the racist!
So you are saying a carpenter can't say he is remodeling the master
bathroom?
Being more sensitive to someone's race is one thing but topics like this
have gone too far!
Bryan Schulz

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Web <nfb-web-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Skye via NFB-Web
Sent: Monday, July 6, 2020 9:35 PM
To: nfb-web at nfbnet.org
Cc: Skye <Starry_sky at live.com>
Subject: Re: [NFB-Web] Terminology shift

I did not realize there would be a need to explain why the group should make
this overdue change on a racist/superiority/sexist term.  This is not a new
revelation. People of color have been long aware that terms like this one
are meant to indicate a level of superiority and/or draw a connection to
slavery.  Women have also been long aware that so many terms are skewed
male.  But it took until now for some people to really pay attention and
make the effort to change. And it seems that some people still will not.

I guess there will always be people who are happier with the way "things
have always been" - a world where white men were the only ones allowed to
vote (and own property); where human beings could own (aka master) other
human beings; where wives are property of their husbands; where one (master)
race could slaughter and torture people of another race, indigenous tribe or
religious group; and where there were no laws to prevent discrimination
against people with disabilities.

Yes, the term webmaster has always been offensive and recognized as a racist
and sexist term.  In addition to the obvious racist and superiority
connotation, the term also disregards women in valid roles. Too many male
based terms are either the standard or else a mutation of the term is
created just for women.  And neither the term or even the internet itself
has been around long enough to try to use that as a justification.  Would
there still be an objection if the term had previously been established as
webmistress or webslave?  Or if the terms whitelist or whitehat represented
negative and dangerous concepts but blacklist and blackhat were the positive
and safe concepts?

We evolve as a society...or at least some of us do. Universities are
changing their references away from house masters.  The real estate
community will no longer call the owner's bedroom a master suite.  Tech
organizations like Drupal, Twitter, etc. changed the terminology way before
the protests began.

When the NFB issued a recent statement to denounce racism, was it only an
empty statement just for show?  Will history record that the members and
supporters of the NFB are a close-minded group that refused to evolve?

Sorry for the long explanation but hope this helps anyone on the fence...

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