this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2023

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Hey, we should all really stop using racist slang to refer to customozation (hexbear.net)

submitted 1 year ago by blashork@hexbear.net to c/unixporn@lemmy.ml

526 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Meta post I've decided to make. I enjoyed the unixporn subreddit a lot when I used reddit more. I enjoy customizing my linux de as much as the next nerd.

But you definitely shouldn't use racist slang to refer to the process.

To be clear, I didn't know the origin of the term 'ricing' until fairly recently. I was chattimg with my friend and used it to describe my de setup. They informed me that apparently it's from car customization, and is a pejorative against generally asian men who customize their car to look like a racecar.

After learning this I was sad to realize just how engrained it is in linux de customization culture. I personally have stopped using the term, and I would ask everyone here stop as well.

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[–] PuppyOSAndCoffee@lemmy.ml 26 points 1 year ago (60 children)

I disagree.

Ricers, in the 80s, as a term that referred to Japanese cars (Honda, Toyota) who burned rice instead of gas. This is bad. Full stop.

From there, rice, in the 90s-00s, referred to the Race Inspired Cosmetic Enhancement: typically bolted onto Honda and Toyota, it moved from that to any cosmetic car customization 10s.

Now we are in 20s, and rice refers to customizations that represent one’s personal choices regarding cosmetic enhancements.

Is that a bad thing?

Why should a word be locked in on a definition from 40 yrs ago? Why should it be stuck in the past?

Why not reclaim a word? Customizing a desktop is a labor of love. It takes a decent amount of time, and is deeply personal, representing one’s own taste.

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[–] chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 24 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In general I don't agree with the sort of broad language policing some people seem to be advocating for here, but this word does seem pretty inseparable from a racist joke. What could rice have to do with computer customization? Even if it's distanced from the original meaning the word itself implies that racist joke. So yeah probably better avoided and replaced.

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[–] tun@lemm.ee 23 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (20 children)

TIL the origin of the word.

But I am confused. Anyone offended for using the word?

When repos changed to main from master, I got problems.

People are hypersensitive over these words now.

[–] NormalC@hexbear.net 25 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (7 children)

When repos changed to main from master, I got problems.

No you just harbor already racist attitudes. There are a non-trivial amount of people who dislike arbitrary, antiquated terminology used in computer science like "master/slave" "male/female" and of course "master branch." Simply getting out your bullhorn and asking "who's actually offended by this?" is demeaning to the issue at hand which goes much farther than just a historical analysis of racism.

[–] Orcocracy@hexbear.net 23 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I remember thinking all of these terms were strange and creepy back when I first learnt them as a kid for goodness' sake. They've always been bad and I'm very glad they're finally going away.

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[–] super_mario_69@hexbear.net 21 points 1 year ago

Oh, shit, I never thought of that. Thanks for pointing it out

[–] Thordros@hexbear.net 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How the fresh fuck is this even a thing still? Even back in the 90's I heard dudes making gags about "Uncle Ben Hot Rods". You know. RICE IT UP!

GET IT? They're shitty race cars made by a shitty race who only makes cheap stuff!

🤮

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[–] LinuxSBC@lemm.ee 16 points 1 year ago (5 children)

That's a good point. What do you use instead?

[–] inasaba@lemmy.ml 16 points 1 year ago (2 children)

"Polished," "tweaked," or if we want to reclaim a term from the crafters, "bedazzled."

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