Fwd: Cu Digest, #9.63, Sun 24 Aug 97

[Boris Groendahl <boris@well.com>]

Ein bißchen Auflockerung, diesmal aus dem neuesten CuD. -- Boris.


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Computer underground Digest    Sun  Aug 24, 1997   Volume 9 : Issue 63
                           ISSN  1004-042X

[...]

Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 20:30:53 -0400
From: Paul Kneisel <tallpaul@nyct.net>
5--Post-Modern Politically Correct Unix: [FYI: no reply needed]

INTRODUCTION TO POST-MODERN POLITICALLY-CORRECT UNIX

The following upgrade to unix System VI was just sent to me.

Of course sys admins the world over know that Post-Modern
Politically-Correct BSD has already had these features for years.

-- tallpaul
 +++++++++++

Politically Correct UNIX

In order for UNIX(tm) to survive into the nineties, it must get rid of
its intimidating commands and outmoded jargon, and become compatible
with the existing standards of our day. To this end, our technicians
have come up with a new version of UNIX, System VI, for use by the PC -
that is, the "Politically Correct."

Politically Correct UNIX: System VI Release Notes

UTILITIES

1) "man" pages are now called "person" pages.

2) Similarly, "hangman" is now the "person_executed_by_an_
oppressive_regime".

3) To avoid casting aspersions on our feline friends, the "cat" command
is now merely "domestic_quadruped".

4) To date, there has only been a UNIX command for "yes" - reflecting
the male belief that women always mean yes, even when they say no. To
address this imbalance, System VI adds a "no" command, along with a
"-f[orce]" option which will crash the entire system if the "no" is
ignored.

5) The bias of the "mail" command is obvious, and it has been replaced
by the more neutral "gender" command.

6) The "touch" command has been removed from the standard distribution
due to its inappropriate use by high-level managers.

7) "compress" has been replaced by the lightweight "feather" command.
Thus, old information (such as that from Dead White European Males)
should be archived via "tar" and "feather".

8) The "more" command reflects the materialistic philosophy of the
Reagan era. System VI uses the environmentally preferable "less"
command.

9) The biodegradable "KleeNeX" displaces the environmentally unfriendly
"LaTeX".

SHELL COMMANDS

1) To avoid unpleasant, medieval connotations, the "kill" command has
been renamed "euthanise."

2) The "nice" command was historically used by privileged users to give
themselves priority over unprivileged ones, by telling them to be
"nice". In System VI, the "sue" command is used by unprivileged users to
get for themselves the rights enjoyed by privileged ones.

3) "history" has been completely rewritten, and is now called
"herstory."

4) "quota" can now specify minimum as well as maximum usage, and will be
strictly enforced.

5) The "abort()" function is now called "choice()."

TERMINOLOGY

1) From now on, "rich text" will be more accurately referred to as
"exploitive capitalist text".

2) The term "daemons" is a Judeo-Christian pejorative. Such processes
will now be known as "spiritual guides."

3) There will no longer be a invidious distinction between "dumb" and
"smart" terminals. All terminals are equally valuable.

4) Traditionally, "normal video" (as opposed to "reverse video") was
white on black. This implicitly condoned European colonialism,
particularly with respect to people of African descent. UNIX System VI
now uses "regressive video" to refer to white on black, while
"progressive video" can be any color at all over a white background.

5) For far too long, power has been concentrated in the hands of "root"
and his "wheel" oligarchy. We have instituted a dictatorship of the
users. All system administration functions will be handled by the
People's Committee for Democratically Organizing the System (PC-DOS).

6) No longer will it be permissible for files and processes to be
"owned" by users. All files and processes will own themselves, and
decide how (or whether) to respond to requests from users.

7) The X Window System will henceforth be known as the NC-17 Window
System.

8) And finally, UNIX itself will be renamed "PC" - for Procreatively
Challenged.


[...]

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------  Boris Groendahl.
------  Texte Und Konzepte Fuer Medien.
------  voice +49 (30) 44 37 90 70.
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