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.

Language changes all the time

It probably won’t be used as much in 10 years time and non of us will notice or care that much

Don’t worry no one shall be thrown in prison for using the word

Language evolves all the time though. Remember back when ‘gay’ was commonly used as a synonym for ‘bad’ or ‘rubbish’? Or ‘raping’ used as a synonym for ‘winning’? Or it was common to use the words ‘retard’ as an insult or say something was ‘spasticated’ to mean it was stupid? Do you miss using any of those words?

I agree that there are bigger issues in the world but you can say that about virtually anything, it’s whataboutery. If we took that attitude about everything then nothing would ever change for the better. The language we use is important.

I’m really not emotionally invested in whether estate agents describe the biggest bedroom as the ‘master’ or the ‘main’. Language changes. I am waiting for the self-involved articles about ‘kink shaming.’

We said the same about accidentally misgendendering someone. But then New York passed a law...

... and there was a thread about an young autistic man being fined a lot of money.

So maybe we can't remain so complacent when our language is being dismantled.

I am waiting for the self-involved articles about ‘kink shaming

You sound like my mother. She still hasn’t gotten over the changed meaning of gay.

Words change, language evolves and if a word or phrase that really doesn’t matter to you either way causes serious offence to others then why not drop it?

Can I still be mistress of my house?

Only if you wear pvc boots

#veganBDSM

@AuntyPasta

You sound like my mother. She still hasn’t gotten over the changed meaning of gay.

Words change, language evolves and if a word or phrase that really doesn’t matter to you either way causes serious offence to others then why not drop it?

But it does matter. I care about our language and don’t want to see it degraded. Evolution in language is one thing, banning meaningful words for the hell of it is another.

I love words too. I swear vigorously and often. I don’t expect other people to swear because I do. I don’t swear in front of my mother because it would offend her.

There is a difference to me between mastering a task ie Masterchef and master bedroom which implies power over other people and I hate seeing used.

Also, changing language is not action. Companies like JP Morgan can tweak their values statements and send as many memos as they like but that does change this qz.com/951064/jpmorgan-chases-ceo-jamie-dimon-admits-to-diversity-problems-with-black-talent-in-his-2017-letter-to-shareholders/

'There is a difference to me between mastering a task ie Masterchef and master bedroom which implies power over other people and I hate seeing used.'

Agree with this. Mastery of a craft or skill, fine. 'Master bedroom' is anachronistic at best and reeks of classism - I associate it less with slavery than with the era of widespread domestic service and suspect this is where its use originated - it was presumably a feature in houses big enough to have servants' bedrooms and the term survived as something aspirational.

Nobody's planning to 'ban' words, but I think it's as well to reflect on the language we use.

it was presumably a feature in houses big enough to have servants' bedrooms and the term survived as something aspirational. According to all the credible info I can find it really was a 1920s advertising thing, Sears I think. Aimed at men...

It's pathetic.

What CatteStreet said.
I wince a bit on here when someone uses 'Head Mistress / Master' rather than Head Teacher. It isn't offensive as such but it is archaic and just sounds so dated. Same as fireman rather than firefighter. It just shows people being a bit stuck in their ways (and if it helps, I'm in my mid fifties, so grew up with a LOT of terms that I wouldn't even type out on here now). Things change.

Generally, I'm not one to take offence at someone 'getting the language wrong'. I think it is FAR more sensible to listen to the tone, and the intent of what a person is saying, than have people frightened to open their mouths for 'saying the wrong thing' but , over time, we should think about language we use and if there is a reason why we can't use a term that is more acceptable to most people.

Irrespective of where the terms/words originate, a lot of them still have racist or sexist connotations....

So, you stated wrongly that "master bedroom" was connected with slavery, a whole bunch of people here corrected you, but rather than admitting you were wrong, you are just going to shift the goalposts of the argument?

More than anything else I am pissed off with the way Americans seem to think they have the right to dictate the way the rest of the world speaks English.

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

I remember our teacher emphasising several times that "servus" was slave, not servant!

You can't use "blacklist" anymore, either.

Well apparently Beyoncé is in trouble for appropriating black culture in a video. It’s just getting daft now.

Beyonce has been criticised by some for appropriating African culture

Would anyone really noticed if they viewed a house they were interested in buying and rather than they use master bedroom they used the term main bedroom

Master bedroom as in the Slave Master's Bedroom
Nonsense. The master of the house was defined in relation to servants, who were employed of their own free will and paid accordingly. Mr is an abbreviation for Master. Are you suggesting the title Mr should be banned?

And would they get a lecture if they asked to see the master bedroom?

Why can’t Beyoncé reference Africa’s culture? Her family origins would be from Africa. My nieces (born and raised abroad) often go full Celt (and don’t always get it correct).

Well I can follow the logic as to why it's offensive but you'd surely have to stop using the title Mr for adult males as it's a contraction of "Master" (as Miss and Mrs are for "Mistress") Where would it end?

I don’t know why Beyonce was criticised I was wasn’t the one being critical of her

Just pointed out it was African culture not black culture

Something called “Wakandafication” and homogenisation of the many Africam cultures, apparently!

She may not, according to some tweets, be black enough! Some others want American Africanism to be remembered as important too!

Maybe Jörmungandr, Ouroboros, Shesha or the world serpant of your culture really has managed to eat itself!