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Ethics: Are we misusing the terms "master-slave". Do we even have a community / forum in which we can discuss this?

Philip Oakley
The recent world wide considerations of the diversity challenges in our society has highlighted that we in Engineering can be perpetuating some of the derogatory terms implicit within our use of "Master-Slave" for purely inanimate technical control scenarios. [1 - N]


We have policies on slavery that every volunteer, staff member and Trustee must read and abide to, but it appears we haven't noticed, to any significant extent, our own continued use of "slave" in our writings.


Do we even have a community or forum in which we can discuss this ethical, and publishing issue?


Philip Oakley

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53273923

[2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3243656.stm

[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53050955

[4 ] http://www.jstor.com/stable/40061475   "Broken Metaphor: The Master-Slave Analogy in Technical Literature"

[5] https://www.theiet.org/involved/volunteering-for-the-iet/volunteer-hub/our-policies/anti-slavery-policy/


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    Philip Oakley:
    Alex Barrett:

    The primary usages of the terms 'master' & 'slave' in electronics are for the SPI bus. Whilst SDI and SDO suffer the same lack of clarity as TX/RX for a UART, MISO & MOSI give clarity of direction and purpose. Erasing the word 'slave' from our vocabulary in no way benefits those who have suffered or do suffer under slavery, instead sweeping it under the carpet. I see no benefit, quite the opposite, from this proposal.


    It's the uncaring association of slavery with inanimate objects and methods, rather than the real suffering of fellow citizens, that provides no benefit. Rather it allows our bad practices regarding some parts of society to continue without thought or comment.


    We already have plenty of alternative words: Primary-secondary, leader-follower, main-consequent, etc. 


    It's a case where in the past we took a slight deviation which started to tun into a slippery slope of indifference. It's a small course correction, just like small changes in the wiring regs to improve the health, safety and well being of those who interact with our technical products.




    Philip, how does avoiding use of the word help those who have suffered or do suffer from slavery?


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    Philip Oakley:
    Alex Barrett:

    The primary usages of the terms 'master' & 'slave' in electronics are for the SPI bus. Whilst SDI and SDO suffer the same lack of clarity as TX/RX for a UART, MISO & MOSI give clarity of direction and purpose. Erasing the word 'slave' from our vocabulary in no way benefits those who have suffered or do suffer under slavery, instead sweeping it under the carpet. I see no benefit, quite the opposite, from this proposal.


    It's the uncaring association of slavery with inanimate objects and methods, rather than the real suffering of fellow citizens, that provides no benefit. Rather it allows our bad practices regarding some parts of society to continue without thought or comment.


    We already have plenty of alternative words: Primary-secondary, leader-follower, main-consequent, etc. 


    It's a case where in the past we took a slight deviation which started to tun into a slippery slope of indifference. It's a small course correction, just like small changes in the wiring regs to improve the health, safety and well being of those who interact with our technical products.




    Philip, how does avoiding use of the word help those who have suffered or do suffer from slavery?


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