Github Replaces Vocabulary

[Nirex]

..I no longer know what to think of the world.

 

https://www.zdnet.com/article/github-to-replace-master-with-alternative-term-to-avoid-slavery-references/

 

Quote

The code-hosting portal is just the latest in a long line of tech companies and open source projects that have expressed support for removing terms that may be offensive to developers in the black community.

This includes dropping terms like "master" and "slave" for alternatives like "main/default/primary" and "secondary;" but also terms like "blacklist" and "whitelist" for "allow list" and "deny/exclude list."

 

[carlos]

It's the stupid politically correct speech. You can call things by whatever name you wish, but that doesn't change the reality. The master drive gives orders to the slave drive, and the slave drive obeys. I would understand if they were called white drive and black drive, or some racial slur, but trying to remove the terms "master" and "slave" from the dictionary is just right silly.

 

Besides, all of this is quite shortsighted. They tend to equal slavery with black people, but the fact is that millions of people of all races have been enslaved by others along history. Slavery still exists in several areas of the world. If the terms "master" and "slave" are to be avoided I guess we should call those exploiters "primary people" and their workforce "secondary people".

 

Unfortunately reality in Satan's system is not politically correct, no matter the language.

[jwhess]

16 minutes ago, carlos said:

It's the stupid politically correct speech. You can call things by whatever name you wish, but that doesn't change the reality. The master drive gives orders to the slave drive, and the slave drive obeys. I would understand if they were called white drive and black drive, or some racial slur, but trying to remove the terms "master" and "slave" from the dictionary is just right silly.

 

Besides, all of this is quite shortsighted. They tend to equal slavery with black people, but the fact is that millions of people of all races have been enslaved by others along history. Slavery still exists in several areas of the world. If the terms "master" and "slave" are to be avoided I guess we should call those exploiters "primary people" and their workforce "secondary people".

 

Unfortunately reality in Satan's system is not politically correct, no matter the language.

I understand that our brothers in the Scandinavian languages have replaced the NWT term "Faith and Discreet Slave" with "Faithful and Wise Servant" in our latest revision.  Perhaps some of our members from Nordic areas could comment. 

[Thesauron]

I understand that our brothers in the Scandinavian languages have replaced the NWT term "Faith and Discreet Slave" with "Faithful and Wise Servant" in our latest revision.  Perhaps some of our members from Nordic areas could comment. 

The Governing Body wished to make it clear that the term used is not one of forced labour, but rather free servitude, so the brothers could chose to use a word meaning “servant” in Matthew 24:45. This is not new. KJV also uses “servant”. Today’s meaning of the word “slave” in Swedish is very derogatory and has only negative meaning. It brings to mind human trafficking and suffering. The parallel account in Luke 12:42 uses the expression “steward.”

The translators are very keen on following how the language is used. For this reason, we have Regional Translation Offices in the area where a language is spoken.

A little tidbit: In Genesis 44:19, the Danish translation used the world “slave”, while the Norwegian used the word “servant.” The Swedish translation took a different route and wrote: “My Lord asked us.”

[carlos]

On 6/17/2020 at 12:01 AM, Thesauron said:

The Governing Body wished to make it clear that the term used is not one of forced labour, but rather free servitude, so the brothers could chose to use a word meaning “servant” in Matthew 24:45. This is not new. KJV also uses “servant”. Today’s meaning of the word “slave” in Swedish is very derogatory and has only negative meaning. It brings to mind human trafficking and suffering. The parallel account in Luke 12:42 uses the expression “steward.”

That seems a reasonable choice. When we think of slaves the image that comes to mind is people being forced to work in terrible conditions by a guy with a whip. But the "faithful and discreet slave" is nothing like that. He was a steward, a trusted servant that took care of all the business in the house, as Joseph was. He still was a slave in the sense that he wasn't free to leave, but he didn't do forced labour or work in bad conditions. A "servant" conveys that sense better.

 

On the other hand, both in the neighboring nations and in Israel there were slaves that were a property of their owners and who had less rights that free citizens. In those verses the right word to use is "slave" indeed.

[comtemplate]

In spoken  language change is a regular occurrence it happened when Daniel, Haniah and Assariah became exiles in Babylon their names had to change to represent that new society atheir names changed to reflect the false gods of the Babylonians.  

 

Our language will change when we get into the paradise because of the embedded ideology of Satan and the demons permeating our language to reflect him being the god of this system.  EX:  Saturday, Sunday, January etc.....

 

Also a point that you brought out really well Carlos is how language evolves overtime the connotation of the word slave in bible times could have been a good thing (for them in that era piercing an ear to show ownership,  the concept is mentioned often in scripture because people were taken care of, but overtime the treatment became inhumane, they abused and killed and raped slaves, slaves were property & they were insured by families who owned many slaves these families  were able to become wealthy from the deaths of the slaves that they owned ... the meaning of the word definitely changed) 

 

Changing words can mean the end of an era and hopefully a fulfillment of prophecy but that's how I see it.  

 

 

 

[comtemplate]

Same thing too we used to say fireman but now we say firefighter since they can now be a man or a woman ....  Police officer, chair a meeting instead of the chairman, dumb are now called mute change is inevitable with almost everything 

 

I can say the changes taking place in world’s current scene seem to have happened so quickly it’s uncanny.  Which also intrigues me.

[M.J.]

Is it just me, or is no one else bothered by the use of the term Circuir OVERSEER. I live in the US which has a strong history of slaves being owned by overseers. The only place that I ever ever hear the word overseer is in the kingdom hall. I never hear this word being used anywhere by anyone, unless I'm reading a book about slavery.  This has bothered me since forever.  I understand we shouldn't be overly concerned over words, but sometimes we do update things. 

 

Psalm 94:19

"When my disquieting thoughts became many inside of me,Your own consolations began to fondle my soul"

 

This scripture uses the word "fondle", and this word is usually used to describe abuse cases, such as: "the sexual molester fondled the child." Which also was very uncomfortable,  but guess what?  The new Bible no longer uses this word. (Relief!)

 

So why are we tone deaf when it comes to the word overseer?

 

Is it just me? And I'm not even black and it bothers me.

[jwhess]

1 hour ago, M.J. said:

Is it just me, or is no one else bothered by the use of the term Circuir OVERSEER. I live in the US which has a strong history of slaves being owned by overseers. The only place that I ever ever hear the word overseer is in the kingdom hall. I never hear this word being used anywhere by anyone, unless I'm reading a book about slavery.  This has bothered me since forever.  I understand we shouldn't be overly concerned over words, but sometimes we do update things. 

 

Psalm 94:19

"When my disquieting thoughts became many inside of me,Your own consolations began to fondle my soul"

 

This scripture uses the word "fondle", and this word is usually used to describe abuse cases, such as: "the sexual molester fondled the child." Which also was very uncomfortable,  but guess what?  The new Bible no longer uses this word. (Relief!)

 

So why are we tone deaf when it comes to the word overseer?

 

Is it just me? And I'm not even black and it bothers me.

When I was growing up, the word was circuit servant.  Can't see how that would make it better. Would you prefer circuit elder, circuit minister...❓

 

Surely not going back to bishop🙂

 

 

Edited June 18, 2020 by jwhess

[Old]

9 hours ago, M.J. said:

Is it just me, or is no one else bothered by the use of the term Circuir OVERSEER. I live in the US which has a strong history of slaves being owned by overseers.

In American history the  overseer could either be a slave or a freeman who job was to supervise the work, by slaves or otherwise. Typically he did not own slaves because they were very expensive.

An overseer oversees, that is what he does

Overseer: a person who supervises others, especially workers.

The Service Group Overseer does not own the sheep, he oversees or shepherds the sheep in a group assinged.

The Circuit Overseer does not own the congregations he oversees the congregation under his care.

8 hours ago, jwhess said:

When I was growing up, the word was circuit servant.  Can't see how that would make it better. Would you prefer circuit elder, circuit minister...❓

 

Surely not going back to bishop🙂

 

 

My earliest recollection  of the use of the term 'circuit servant' was the issue that older ones still called him the 'servant to the bretheren' something that left some aghast as that was an outdated term. Similar today when some of us older ones referr to 'The Society' when the the more proper term is "The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses." 

("The Society" is much easier to say than "The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses." 

[jwhess]

29 minutes ago, Old said:

In American history the  overseer could either be a slave or a freeman who job was to supervise the work, by slaves or otherwise. Typically he did not own slaves because they were very expensive.

An overseer oversees, that is what he does

Overseer: a person who supervises others, especially workers.

The Service Group Overseer does not own the sheep, he oversees or shepherds the sheep in a group assinged.

The Circuit Overseer does not own the congregations he oversees the congregation under his care.

My earliest recollection  of the use of the term 'circuit servant' was the issue that older ones still called him the 'servant to the bretheren' something that left some aghast as that was an outdated term. Similar today when some of us older ones referr to 'The Society' when the the more proper term is "The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses." 

("The Society" is much easier to say than "The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses." 

There was a time they were called "Pilgrims" and it was a Pilgrim Visit.  I have a letter from Br. Russell to a local congregation asking them if they wanted the visit...🙂

[M.J.]

10 hours ago, jwhess said:

When I was growing up, the word was circuit servant.  Can't see how that would make it better. Would you prefer circuit elder, circuit minister...❓

 

Surely not going back to bishop🙂

 

 

Actually,  I do like the term circuit elder 🙂

[M.J.]

1 hour ago, Old said:

In American history the  overseer could either be a slave or a freeman who job was to supervise the work, by slaves or otherwise. Typically he did not own slaves because they were very expensive.

Thank you very much for clarifying.

But I think others may not realize this, just like me. It's just a term that we automatically relate to slavery.

[Nirex]

The biggest one the above article that I don't understand is the 'blacklist' and 'whitelist' vocab change. Like ... Blacklist is usually your list of unwanted. Whitelist your list of things allowed.

I know WHY they're going after them since it's 'black' and 'white'. But I don't know why they see that as just in terms of race?

 

Like. Dark and Light. Good and Evil. Day and Night. Dark = danger has always been a thing for humans. Light = Safe has as well. White has always been a color of purity, black a color of evil. But that doesn't make that fall to color of people as well...  .... So are they literally trying to erase that with vocabulary changes?

 

 

Edited June 18, 2020 by Nirex

[Thesauron]

Is it just me, or is no one else bothered by the use of the term Circuir OVERSEER. I live in the US which has a strong history of slaves being owned by overseers. The only place that I ever ever hear the word overseer is in the kingdom hall. I never hear this word being used anywhere by anyone, unless I'm reading a book about slavery.  This has bothered me since forever.  I understand we shouldn't be overly concerned over words, but sometimes we do update things. 
 
Psalm 94:19
"When my disquieting thoughts became many inside of me,Your own consolations began to fondle my soul"
 
This scripture uses the word "fondle", and this word is usually used to describe abuse cases, such as: "the sexual molester fondled the child." Which also was very uncomfortable,  but guess what?  The new Bible no longer uses this word. (Relief!)
 
So why are we tone deaf when it comes to the word overseer?
 
Is it just me? And I'm not even black and it bothers me.

We don’t make policy, but I’m certain that if there is a change in the language that would give the word ‘overseer’ a bad meaning, then we would likely change it where necessary. The etymology of the English word ‘overseer’. While it is true that the etymology leads us to the historic use within a slavery context, how is it understood today?

[M.J.]

21 minutes ago, Thesauron said:

While it is true that the etymology leads us to the historic use within a slavery context, how is it understood today?

If you see my posts, I said it's not used today. I've only come across the term in a context of topics regarding slavery.

[Thesauron]

If you see my posts, I said it's not used today. I've only come across the term in a context of topics regarding slavery.

Yes, and why would that make us change anything if that isn’t how it is understood today? Is that how people in your territory understand it?

 

Merriam-Webster gives this definition: “a person who oversees others : a person with supervisory responsibilities.”

[jwhess]

It may not be a commonly used word but I just saw it in a definition...

pastor

pas·tor | \ ˈpa-stər  \

 

Definition of pastor

 

: a spiritual overseer

especially : a clergyman serving a local church or parish

[M.J.]

2 hours ago, Thesauron said:

Yes, and why would that make us change anything if that isn’t how it is understood today? Is that how people in your territory understand it?

 

Merriam-Webster gives this definition: “a person who oversees others : a person with supervisory responsibilities.”

Yes, if you read previous quotes,  I explained everything.

[Thesauron]

Yes, if you read previous quotes,  I explained everything.

What post are you referring to? I’ve read them all.

[M.J.]

Starting at #8

[Thesauron]

Starting at #8

And your point? You’re concerned about how a word was used historically?

[Hope]

32 minutes ago, Thesauron said:

And your point? You’re concerned about how a word was used historically?

I think he's saying that currently, "overseer" isn't used in much capacity beyond describing someone who managed slaves on a plantation.  The only context he ever hears the word "overseer" is in relation to things in our Organization.  It's not a word that is used in English very often - probably because of its historical connotation.

 

For myself, whenever I hear the word I automatically think of how it's used in our Organization... NOT related to slavery at all.  It just doesn't occur to me.  I rarely think about slavery.

[M.J.]

Thx Hope, but just to clarify, I'm a female

[Qapla]

Back in the 1980's there was a move to change the names of hardware ...

 

They wanted to remove the terms screw, nail, nut, shaft, male and female (thread, plugs and such) and a few more I can't remember because they were "sexist" - all those terms are still in use