Hi Felix, * Felix Lechner <felix.lechner@lease-up.com> [2021-11-03 14:27]:
I would like to rename the FTP Masters team—ideally via a General Resolution. [...] PROPOSED TEXT In recognizance of the awful history of slavery, the Debian project will rename the "FTP Masters" team. For a long time, the word "master" has been associated with the grave injustices of slavery. [1] While there is a tradition in computing to label primary equipment as a "master" and replicated equipment as "slaves" [2] the use of the word "masters" for a group of people with special privileges [3] shocks the conscience. Within that context, the team's use of the title "wizard" [4] was also problematic. The Ku Klux Klan and its spinoffs used the title "wizard" to style high officials. [5] The team will likewise discontinue the use of the term "wizard" to designate any current or former members. Nothing in this resolution shall impair the continued use of the "master/slave" analogy for technical equipment. "Without a struggle, there can be no progress." (Frederick Douglass) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master/slave_(technology) [3] "The FTP masters can do everything in the archive.", https://wiki.debian.org/Teams/FTPMaster [4] "The FTP Wizard role consists of former team members", https://ftp-master.debian.org/ [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Wizard
I'm not going to repeat Karsten's arguments; I agree with him that our usage of master is not associated with slavery in such a way that we absolutely need to abandon the word. Neither is wizard (unless anyone insists on "Grand Wizard" as title). While I also agree with Paul that the current name is somewhat dated technologically, it is not fatally flawed. Therefore, I think we should leave the naming decision to the FTP masters themselves. I am fine with any name on which the FTP masters and the DPL can agree, including the current one. I would also happily ratify their choice via GR if they felt that the whole project should have a say. What I do not want is force a GR decision upon them. Cheers Timo -- ⢀⣴⠾⠻⢶⣦⠀ ╭────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮ ⣾⠁⢠⠒⠀⣿⡁ │ Timo Röhling │ ⢿⡄⠘⠷⠚⠋⠀ │ 9B03 EBB9 8300 DF97 C2B1 23BF CC8C 6BDD 1403 F4CA │ ⠈⠳⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀ ╰────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
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