[PLUG] Block-list, Pass--list

Denis Heidtmann denis.heidtmann at gmail.com
Thu Jul 22 22:52:13 UTC 2021


Time for John to contribute some information about the etymology.

-Denis

On Thu, Jul 22, 2021 at 2:28 PM <james at bertelson.me> wrote:

> The etymology of the terms white and black list have absolutely nothing
> to do with today's hyperracialized politics.
>
> James
>
> On 2021-07-22 16:55, Keith Lofstrom wrote:
> > This might be a "plug-talk" subject, but it will affect
> > how we write and use and archive Linux code, so it belongs
> > on this list, practically speaking.
> >
> > I've used the terms "black-list" and "white-list" for half
> > a century.  I just realized those terms are ideologically
> > incorrect, and will derail a discussion, sooner or later.
> >
> > A little googling revealed alternatives.
> >
> > An obvious (and technically more accurate) replacement for
> > "black-list" is "BLOCK-list".  A bit of work to relearn,
> > but trivial to implement technically.  When I forget and
> > mistakenly say "black", I can pretend you misheard me :-)
> >
> > "WHITE-list" is harder, many more variants in play.
> > "Allow-list" is one alternative (same number of letters);
> > "Pass-list" is faster to say (same number of syllables).
> >
> > Maybe "Pass--list" is optimum, since cut-and-paste changes
> > checksums but not line and file lengths.
> >
> > I bring this up now, and here, because I would like to
> > resolve this and practice making the change before some
> > politically-correct pecksniff derails a technical
> > discussion.  Virtue signalling has its place (plug-talk),
> > but I hope we can make this transition together, without
> > rancor, maintaining focus on technical virtuosity instead.
> >
> > Let's discuss this /technically/ here, /virtuously/ on
> > plug-talk.  When we decide what to do, TOGETHER, how do we
> > propagate it through millions of lines of code written by
> > thousands over decades?
> >
> > Keith
> >
> > P.S. Genetically, I am "very-dilute-black".  Many people
> > with southern-US ancestors are.  Some west-African genes
> > protect against malaria, endemic in the antebellum south.
> > Linux systems were used to discover this.  References
> > available off-list; discuss on plug-talk.
> >
> > --
> > Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com
>
> --
> James Bertelson
> james at bertelson.me
> :wq
>



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