[Python-ideas] Retire or reword the "Beautiful is better than ugly" Zen clause

[Oleg Broytman]

On Thu, Sep 13, 2018 at 11:05:53AM +0200, Jacco van Dorp <j.van.dorp at deonet.nl> wrote:
> -1. The concept of ugly code is everywhere on the internet. Everyone on
> this planet has either written ugly code or no code at all. Some have also
> written beautiful code.
> 
> People aren't code, and code isn't people. I can't see this becoming a
> problem until we have an AI that can feel insulted because someone tells it
> it's code looks ugly, and that's waaaaay off. Don't conflate code with
> people, please.
> 
> At the risk of politicizing (which you also took), I'd like to add that
> diversity and inclusivity of thought is more important than that of
> whatever arbitrary beauty standard.
> 
> The Zen is clear and not about people. Don't try to make it to be so.

   "Master/slave" technical term is also not about people but some
think the term must be changed:

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/09/11/python_purges_master_and_slave_in_political_pogrom/

   I'm against the move and like the PRs to be reverted.

> Op do 13 sep. 2018 om 10:38 schreef Samantha Quan <sammiequan at yandex.com>:
> 
> > First, I'd like to express how grateful I am to see more and more
> > technical communities embrace diversity and inclusivity, particularly big
> > tech communities like Python, Redis, and Django.
> >
> > In the spirit of the big recent terminology change, I propose retiring or
> > rewording the "Beautiful is better than ugly" Zen clause for perpetuating
> > beauty bias and containing lookist slur. I realize that Zen is old, but you
> > can't argue that the word "ugly" is harmless, now that society condemns
> > body shaming, and instead promotes body acceptance and self-love. One
> > alternative to that clause I could think of is "Clean is better than
> > dirty", but please do speak up if you have better ideas.
> >
> > I ask you to give this change serious consideration, even if it seems
> > over-the-top to you now, because times change, and this will be of great
> > help in the battle for the more tolerant and less judgemental society.
> >
> > I understand that this topic may seem controversial to some, so please be
> > open-minded and take extra care to respect the PSF Code Of Conduct when
> > replying.
> >
> > Thank you!
> >
> >   - Sam
> >
> > Some references:
> >
> > https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Lookism
> > https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lookism

Oleg.
-- 
    Oleg Broytman            https://phdru.name/            phd at phdru.name
           Programmers don't die, they just GOSUB without RETURN.