'main' doesn't seem like a good solution if this is really what they're going to do. it might just be me but a 'master' branch in some repos might not be equal to what you could consider a 'main' branch.
GitHub wil change default branch name from 'master' to 'main'
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Re: GitHub wil change default branch name from 'master' to 'main'
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
You’re right, we should remove the words from the language such that not even “racist” concepts can be expressed. An act of daring of such thought itself should be a crime. In fact we should call this new language: newspeak.
This story is about a business (Github) deciding to change language in their product that could carry racist connotations. It’s not about criminalizing racist language.
Except this usage doesn’t and has never had racist connotations. If one wilfully chooses to misinterpret the meaning of words then that is on them.
Much the same way RMS did not defend Epstein. Truth is often the first casualty.
Re: GitHub wil change default branch name from 'master' to 'main'
#93If you read "master branch" and think of slavery, you have reading comprehension issues that won't be fixed by renaming the branch. (I know bitkeeper used master/slave terminology for repositories; that is completely irrelevant to git).
If you read "this hurts me" and think "I disagree, therefor you can't read" you have empathy issues.
Re: GitHub wil change default branch name from 'master' to 'main'
#94I'd say "blacklist" and "whitelist" are more offensive / have a stronger argument of colour being used to discriminate (albeit not directly related to races) / would be better to have "deny list" and "allow list".
"Race condition" is just as offensive as "Master Branch" - neither are relating to prejudice / historic injustice; but use different meanings of these potentially loaded words.
That said, nothing against switching to non-loaded terms; especially if the effort to do so is less than the effort to debate it. But we mustn't accuse people of being racist just because they're using terminology that some are offended by when those using the terminology are simply using terminology they've learnt, and could have no reasonable expectation to have considered that it may be deemed offsensive.