[PLUG] Block-list, Pass--list

[Jason Barnett]

https://www.adexchanger.com/data-driven-thinking/no-more-inflammatory-jargon-change-blacklist-to-blocklist/

The true value of the link is in the comments.

On Thu, Jul 22, 2021 at 3:52 PM Denis Heidtmann <denis.heidtmann at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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
> >
>