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GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

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Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#191

Post by IAmEveryone »

zucker42 wrote: post #14

I'm a strong supporter of social justice. I don't really object to people putting in work to change language like that if they think it's important. Especially when the work required is minimal. That said, this is slightly ridiculous. Have customers seriously complained about the term "master"? And my impression was that the usage was more similar to "master copy" than "master of the plantation". Honestly, it's frust…

"I'm a strong supporter of social justice! M.L.K. was always my hero. I even got into college with a great essay on what a beloved leader of the civil rights movement he was!

As I said: strong supported.

But, come to think of it, if you tried to come up with the tiniest, most insignificant, free-as-in-beer-no-tax-increase, I-would't-even-notice-if-it-just-happen, quantum measure of any actual effort, grace, gesture, incon-slightest-venience? No that's where I draw a line.

I'm all gung-ho for righting 400 years of injustice. But for some reason I'm suddenly really invited in jargon. You seem to invest a lot of emotions into these terms, which I find silly. I, on the other hand, am entirely objective and have in no way attached and cultural significance to these terms.

But I might have to ro a search-and-replace. And that's why I'm opposing this with far more effort than that search-and-replace would ever take,

Of course, if your objections had actual merit, I would behave differently.

But I've thought long and hard how it would feel to be black and see these words being used.

And please be informed that I have felt absolutely not threatened, belittled, or exploited in my little thought experiment. Not at all.

And if I (and all my white male friends) can't feel bad about these terms, than nobody can. Because we define reality, and even subjectivity. For everyone.

Go BLM!

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#192

Post by mydongle »

IAmEveryone wrote: post #190
mydongle wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

And just three hours before this half-assed parody of an alt-right post, you were asking for free money over here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23470722 ?

It's always worth a try. I need money to keep a roof on my head. I'm not policing anyone or asking for status and power lmao.

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#193

Post by pcstl »

I really don't care what the default name for a branch is. I don't care if people want to change it. Hell, if GitHub starts defaulting to "main" instead of "master" I probably won't even care enough to change it from "main" to anything else in any new repos.

What I care about is that this will inevitably lead to companies and individuals that, for any reason (due to having the name "master" hardcoded in a lot of scripts, for instance), do not make this change in their repositories being labeled as being pro-racism.

We all know how this goes.

This insanity just grows every single day. The purity policing grows ever more intense. It's making my world view bleaker by the minute.

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#194

Post by Traster »

throwaway1997 wrote: post #189
Traster wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If we're really having this conversation here's your answer: the github term master comes from bitkeeper which was specifically using a master/slave idiom. Whereas Master in academia is derived from the Latin Magister which doesn't have the same reference to the master slave dynamic - it's literally just a homonym. So don't change your CV.

I'm sorry but you are mistaken. "Master" in git refers to "record master" which has nothing to do with a master-slave relationship. The master used in git is a homonym, not the same word.

Nope, it's mentioned right here: https://github.com/bitkeeper-scm/bitkeeper/blob/master/doc/H...

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#196

Post by protomyth »

Seb-C wrote: post #188
protomyth wrote: post #25

What bugs me about crap like this is that it ignores world history, makes these people feel good about doing nothing of consequence, and takes attention away from things that will actually help. If you are going to help, actually do something that improves the lives of people. Maybe, you should really put some effort into beefing up the Computer Science programs in black high schools and colleges? You are Microsoft,…

I understand that you are trying to be constructive, but I'm quite surprised by your use of "black high school" and "black colleges". Is it still a thing in the US? Wouldn't focusing on fixing this situation be more beneficial than reinforcing it?

I understand that you are trying to be constructive, but I'm quite surprised by your use of "black high school" and "black colleges". Is it still a thing in the US?

Yes it is "still a thing". They are mentioned in legislation as Black Colleges. It was an extremely big deal this year when Black Colleges were successful in lobbying for Title III funding. In fact, they are listed officially as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Native American's higher education institutions are referred to officially as Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

Wouldn't focusing on fixing this situation be more beneficial than reinforcing it?

So, yes, that is what they are referred to in legislation, so stop trying to imply someone is not using the right words. It really ticks me off when people wordsmith but don't bother actually engaging or knowing any of the history of the people they are being offended for.

Maybe if you stopped implying racism where none exists, we would have a better world.

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#197

Post by KayL »

andai wrote: post #172
KayL wrote: post #113

Everybody knowing that is a replacement for the word "Master". After 50 years, `Main` === `Master`. Will it? `root` is better if you really want to make a change. Or rand() is your friend. Maybe I'm not a native English speaker. After knowing the history of Master/Slave. I still not linking them to the bad side. If they can, rename `Git` also. Acutally I have some complaints from my clients before.

Your clients complained about the name git? (As an aside, you know Linus named both his projects after himself? :)

Linus named Master branch is Master also. I know it but they don't. :s

Re: GitHub is working on renaming default branch from “master”

#200

Post by Seb-C »

protomyth wrote: post #196
Seb-C wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand that you are trying to be constructive, but I'm quite surprised by your use of "black high school" and "black colleges". Is it still a thing in the US? Wouldn't focusing on fixing this situation be more beneficial than reinforcing it?

I understand that you are trying to be constructive, but I'm quite surprised by your use of "black high school" and "black colleges". Is it still a thing in the US? Yes it is "still a thing". They are mentioned in legislation as Black Colleges. It was an extremely big deal this year when Black Colleges were successful in lobbying for Title III funding. In fact, they are listed officially as Historically Black College…

Wow, I did not expect so much aggressivity. Sorry if I hit some sensible point, but my question certainly did not aim to imply any kind of judgement.

I am not american and never heard about a "black college" before. Are those words (along with the TCUs you mentioned) used for historical reasons, or is there still segregation (wether legally or de-facto)?

The meaning of my second question was actually that I disagree that "beefing up the Computer Science programs in black high schools" will help much beyond a little short term relief. Efforts should focus about understanding and fixing the systemic problems, not the symptoms.

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