London, May 7 (IANS) The word "blacklist" has been banned from use by Britain's Scotland Yard over fears that it is racist, a media report said Monday.
Not just that.
The computer term whitelist that was used to denote a list of acceptable contacts has also been banned, reported The Sun.
Scotland Yard put out an e-mail warning that the words were no longer "appropriate".
Security services chief Brian Douglas wrote: "IB (Information Board) are uncomfortable with the use of the term Whitelist (and I presume Blacklist).
"I am sure we can appreciate the sensitivity around the use of such terminology today so please ensure it is no longer used."
He then goes on to suggest options like calling green and red list.
Sources described it as "bizarre".
Scotland Yard said this was not a change in policy.
"It is a change in internal Information Communications Technology terminology which reflects a more appropriate use of language."
I wonder if Al Gore is going to complain about using "green" and I know our Native American community is going to jump on the use of the word "red"? Anyone here want to offer sensitive alternatives to these words?
Enemies List and Friends List. The UK isn't above being creepily statist. I mean, just so long as they aren't racist even in someone's wild fantasy.
(Really now, the "black hole" thing is a joke in the US, which is the country with all the black people. Unless I'm mistaken and Brits have called Indians "black" since Edward VII died.)
