this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2023
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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"Race Inspired Cosmetic Enhancement" sounds like a backronym to separate the modern term from its problematic history.
Wikipedia tells a slightly different story.
During the Korean and Vietnam wars, the term "rice burner" was used to refer to Koreans/Vietnamese (as in "machines that run on rice").
Around the same time, the term "rice burner" was also being used as a disparaging term to refer to Japanese-made cars and motorcycles.
Eventually, the term came to be heavily associated with a specific Japanese automotive style. "Ricing" started to mean modding vehicles according to that style. And then the term was brought to the Unix community through forums like this.
And this is where we get the modern usage.
So the term definitely started out as being both derogatory and specifically asian. But today, no one uses it like that. I think the history and context of this term is completely lost on most people.
Now when people use the term, the sentiment is neither derogatory nor specifically asian. So I don't think the common usage here in the Unix community is something to worry about.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_burner
Well the thing is I've only ever heard "Rice Burner" in Vietnam movies, never in reference to a car or linux. I think they're separate terms. I've always heard "Ricer" or "Rice Rocket" for cars, and like I said I have heard people use it racistly (I know that isn't a word but it is now because I said it) but I judge the individual, as I'm fairly certain the acronym is the correct origin.
I'm not one of those "you can never trust wikipedia" people, but they do sometimes get stuff wrong and this might be one.