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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is the word ‘master’ about to become socially unacceptable?

179 replies

sst1234 · 05/07/2020 11:02

Just heard a debate on tv about whether the word ‘master’ conjures up images of slavery and if it is appropriate as in ‘masterchef’ and ‘master bedroom’. What? Really? I am speechless. Anyone taking offence to this is not just barking mad but is politically correct to the detriment of real issues in the world that need attention.

OP posts:
LastTrainEast · 05/07/2020 11:11

It's a race to be seen as more inclusive than the person next to you - woke virtue signalling. They will leap-frog over each other with more extreme and outlandish demands/suggestions.

I mean leap-amphibian of course since frog has in the past been used as a derogatory term.

MushyPeasAreTheDevilsFood · 05/07/2020 11:12

Yes exactly Woke virtue signalling. Very noisy but actually does absolutely nothing for the situation.

PlanDeRaccordement · 05/07/2020 11:12

Master was also used by servants. It is also a vocational rank, like master carpenter (apprentice, journeyman, master). It was also used in context of master-slave. You can make same argument for mistress as you can for master. So I while I agree master/mistress does conjure images of slavery in people, I don’t think it makes sense to make the words socially unacceptable/forbidden because it’s an effort to erase and whitewash history.

On the other hand, I don’t mind it being used less in society because it is oldfashioned and a bit sexist on top of the slavery link. I remember getting my bachelors and masters degrees and thinking how both are a male noun, not female. So, I’m in favour of new language for these things and the words master/mistress just falling out of fashion.

QuestionableMouse · 05/07/2020 11:13

Young boys are known as master name, is that offensive now too?

It's stupid and doubly so because it's sidestepping the real issues.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 05/07/2020 11:14

Once worked somewhere where the person in charge insisted on being called "Master" - twat.
It was not a good cultural fit Grin

thegcatsmother · 05/07/2020 11:14

In some contexts 'master' is about skill; you've mastered your craft. Apprentices used to produce their masterpiece, to show they could be a skilled craftsman in their own right. In the military a master at arms is a key figure on a ship.

A friend of my Mum is going to give me some of her time so I can master a stitch I can't ever get right.

FrippEnos · 05/07/2020 11:15

Given the vast use of the word "master", It would be stupid to even try and get it removed from societal use.

thegcatsmother · 05/07/2020 11:17

We'll have to change the terminology used in engineering the. Iirc, as I drive a manual, I have master/slave cylinders under my bonnet.

SuitedandBooted · 05/07/2020 11:18

It's just ridiculous echo-chamber "debate" from the permanently offended.
Nonsensical virtue-signalling that has no place in real life, and detracts from the real issues. Slavery is still going on, and policing language like that is mad!

TheQueef · 05/07/2020 11:18

Fucks sake.
We have a pandemic to sort through.
Anyone who has time to try and retro fit language in to whatever is deemed acceptable this week needs refocusing Hmm

Fairenuff · 05/07/2020 11:23

I don't think it will catch on.

We still use the word mankind, manpower, etc.

Beatrixpotterspencil · 05/07/2020 11:23

Historically I have always considered it to be a bit gross.

These days it just reminds me of S&M.

Beatrixpotterspencil · 05/07/2020 11:25

What i say is bring back lords and ladies and serfdom! 🤪

MardyBra · 05/07/2020 11:26

I think we should have mistresschef and mistress mind.

I avoid words like mankind and use humankind or humanity instead.

Beatrixpotterspencil · 05/07/2020 11:27

‘History’ always bugged me, but I’m not sure if it does actually translate to ‘his story’, of which there are many, and they are mostly fucked up.

I’ve noticed on MN people only get angry about men, And issues relating to feminism.
all other injustices and delicacies are fair game, or you’re over-reacting.
Sorry but it’s true, and it doesn’t make me any less a feminist to perceive it.

ItsGoingTibiaK · 05/07/2020 11:28

Canon are changing the terminology for their flash systems - they will no longer refer to flashes as ‘master’ and ‘slave’.

petapixel.com/2020/07/04/canon-has-officially-stopped-using-the-terms-master-and-slave/

Ponoka7 · 05/07/2020 11:28

There's times when the use of Master, as in the bedroom can be dropped. In the UK we would use main bedroom. Using Master in some situations is as sexist as it is racist.

Our language has been constantly evolving, which is why we don't say, retard, cripple, etc.

In other situations, it would be ok to carry on with the usage.

As for every other concern stopping because of a new virus, that's just ridiculous.

FishHasDied · 05/07/2020 11:28

Thank God I’m old, not on social media and can ignore all this nonsense.

shinyredbus · 05/07/2020 11:30

God the world is going fucking mad. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Ponoka7 · 05/07/2020 11:30

"I avoid words like mankind and use humankind or humanity instead."

Which is another good example of how we've changed because women are now seen as being a part of society, just as Black people are.

SerenityNowwwww · 05/07/2020 11:30

DH was hooting about this yesterday at the newspaper reports.

He works in a place that is falling over themselves with BLM. He fits into that category so I told him he should have some fun with it. He won’t though (he thinks that this is a ‘cause trend’ that will cause a lot of problems and won’t solve anything).

Elvesdontdomagic · 05/07/2020 11:31

@FishHasDied

Thank God I’m old, not on social media and can ignore all this nonsense.
This cracked me up!
murasaki · 05/07/2020 11:32

History is from the ancient Greek historia, which means an enquiry. Nothing to do with men. Although obviously they tended to write it at the time!

memememoi · 05/07/2020 11:36

There is context in this.

Master bedroom as in the Slave Master's Bedroom... if you don't know how disgusting and loaded this is then I suggest you do some reading because judging from a lot of the replies, a lot of you do not have the range.

A lot of terms we use are deep rooted in racism. Just because they're "normal" long standing terms, and the trauma of being on the receiving end doesn't apply to you, it doesn't make it "political correctness gone mad".

Some of the responses in this thread are just 🥴🥴

ItsGoingTibiaK · 05/07/2020 11:36

@Beatrixpotterspencil

‘History’ always bugged me, but I’m not sure if it does actually translate to ‘his story’, of which there are many, and they are mostly fucked up.

I’ve noticed on MN people only get angry about men, And issues relating to feminism.
all other injustices and delicacies are fair game, or you’re over-reacting.
Sorry but it’s true, and it doesn’t make me any less a feminist to perceive it.

History is from Ancient Greek and has absolutely no connection to “his story” at all.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History

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