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

[sst1234]

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.

@YgritteSnow

If only slavery itself, which is still ongoing the world over, was paid so much attention as this absolute nonsense is.

Exactly this. I wonder how many people frothing about this are wearing clothes made in sweat shops, sometimes by child labour? I’m getting really angry about this nonsense now. It’s so much easier to virtue signal about historic trivia than to actually act to stop the exploitation of people that’s happening right now.

Or Master and Commander books.

Exactly - make sure you ask what pronouns are correct.

I'm afraid that's a moot point. We've had the chat and the lead wasn't remotely receptive. It told me it came out of the factory male-to-male and that was just the way he was. It even had the cheek to accuse me of trying to use pedantry to deny basic scientific fact when I tried to enlighten it on difference between sex and gender. It said I could view him as female-to-female as much as I liked but it wouldn't change the fact he had male bits. Trust a computer lead to be so frustratingly logical.

🤔 in my experience a person who uses "Karen" as an insult may safely be ignored and they're usually talking absolute tosh. Might I suggest this as a rule for all to follow? You won't regret it.

Ah yes @Alsohuman that has been part of my ‘you don’t have it bad’ rant for many years.

Children right now, this very minute starving. Being born into slavery. Girl babies being murdered at/pre birth because of their sex - or married off/sold whilst still children. Children being mutilated to work as street beggars. Living in the streets and working in factories or brothels. Stitching your clothes and leather goods so that you can buy cheap and often.

I shall add that to my personal rule book, it seems sensible.

I hope not, as what would replace it? And where would it end?

I have a Master's degree, mastery of several skills, and sleep in a master bedroom. Words change their meaning over time. 'Master' is one of them.

It’s the professionally offended again 🙄

It’s so much easier to virtue signal about historic trivia than to actually act to stop the exploitation of people that’s happening right now.

Exactly. Worrying over the use of a word is so much easier though.

"Master bedroom as in the Slave Master's Bedroom..."

Surely, it's the master of the house's bedroom rather than the slave master's?

Exactly this. I wonder how many people frothing about this are wearing clothes made in sweat shops, sometimes by child labour? I’m getting really angry about this nonsense now. It’s so much easier to virtue signal about historic trivia than to actually act to stop the exploitation of people that’s happening right now.

I would agree that the rich and powerful would much rather BLM and anyone else involved in human rights get tird up in discussing statues and etymology rather than more substantive issues.

However BLM is about exploitation that is happening right now. It's not either or, it's all of it. Everyone needs social and economic justice.

Language evolves - always has done.

Malcolm X had a point about focusing on the wrong things.

DS was studying Latin - an awful lot of slaves in translations.

Jack of all trades master of none? We can’t say that?

Similar to a poster above, I sleep in the Master bedroom, a Masters degree, am a Fellow of my professional institute. I often chair a meeting. Woebetide anybody who refers to me as the chair: if anything I am the chairwoman or if they must the chair person. I did not get a Masters, become a Fellow or earn enough to be independent and live well in my own right, before marriage and now if I so wished, through being an inanimate object.

Will masterbate be called bate?

I actually agree with the OP as there is an easy substitute for something that could offend, but for the love of God why is it ok to not want one demographic to be insulted/belittled/slurred and then doing that exact same thing with another demographic?

@MrsPeacockInTheLibrary

Ok, so is anyone worried about how mistress or madame so often suggests sex/ dominatrix practice when linked to a bedroom? Are we woke enough for that one yet?

That is just fine, how dare you kink shame folx.

The use of the word trauma in all this makes me gag

It’s become a particularly affected woke Americanism

Completely losing all meaning

That is the irony of this - the ultra woke have no idea how to deal with BDSM sex inclinations which arguably as as much born into you as is being gay. Do they be inclusive or do they condemn....... I think we can leave them to get their knickers in a twist over this and much else whilst the rest of us just get on with living normal lives.

@YgritteSnow

🤔 in my experience a person who uses "Karen" as an insult may safely be ignored and they're usually talking absolute tosh. Might I suggest this as a rule for all to follow? You won't regret it.

It's the new version of Godwin's Law

wafflyversatile "language changes all the time anyway" It changes naturally, but when change is imposed it rarely goes well.

"why you choose to lend your energies to objecting to small changes for you that might make a difference to people who are on the sharp end of racist language, rather than using your energy to make the effort to be anti racist? "

"why object to.. " is used all the time to gradually make changes that would outrage if imposed in one step.

But by all means cancel a UK cooking show if it helps prevent police in another country entirely from shooting black people because of a culture of racism that has never been eradicated since they kept slaves in every home.

No. No. No.

I think it is fair enough to say Master to refer to someone who has mastered their craft (Carpenter, Chef, Mariner etc) and also to use it to officially address young males. I have never used Master bedroom as I have two doubles so neither is the main one.

It's all getting out of hand. It isn't all about slavery.

@MrsPeacockInTheLibrary

The word mistress - a husband has a mistress. A wife does not have a master. It is still about sex and a power relationship.

That's true now but it wasn't always. The mistress of the house was the female equivalent of the master of the house and was a term of respect rather than anything else.

I think Mrs was originally a contraction of Mistress wasn't it?

@Fairenuff

I don't think it will catch on.

We still use the word mankind, manpower, etc.

That's acceptable though because it's discriminating against women not against people based on race. Discrimination against women is acceptable unless they are trans women of course.