October 2nd is the International Day of Non-Violence. Swap one phrase for a day →
Test your words

What have we stopped noticing?

The things we say, do, and accept without thinking twice.

Why “Tofu & Potatoes”? →

race & cultureworktech & AI

“Master / slave”

A database relationship named after human bondage.

Conscious swap“Primary / replica”

Would you swap it, or keep it?

Look closer where it comes from, what it assumes, and the case for keeping it
What you mean by it

A legacy technical naming pair for a controlling component and the ones that follow it.

What it's actually picturing

A technical relationship is named using a relationship of human ownership.

What it takes for granted

That slavery is available as an everyday picture of one thing controlling another, ordinary enough to name a database relationship with.

Worth knowing

Python (2018), MySQL (2020) and the Linux kernel's coding style have moved to terms such as primary/replica, source/replica or leader/follower.

The case for keeping it

It's a technical metaphor with no statement about people, and renaming has real migration costs.

Say it plainly
Primary / replicaLeader / follower
◆ It's right there in the words
Where this comes from

What else do you hear all the time?

Non-violence “Kill two birds with one stone” A good day's work, shown as two dead birds. Feed two birds with one scone Non-violence “Bullet points” Your slide deck is formatted with ammunition. Dot points (already common in Australia) Work metaphors “Deadline” The date something is due, sharing its name with a line prisoners were shot for crossing. Finish line Non-violence “Pull the trigger” The moment you decide is the moment a gun goes off. Press the big green button Non-violence “Take a stab at it” Having a go at something, described as a knife attack. Give it a whirl Non-violence “Shoot me an email” Your inbox is a firing range. You shoot emails, fire off replies and send blasts. Toss me an email
See the whole wall → Check your own writing