The meaning behind the Master/slave flag

"In ideogram systems, the vertical line, or stripe, was established to mean power, or dominance. It is commonly used today on electronic items such as your TV, VCR, and computer equipment to mark the power button. In a psychology system, there is a symbol of three horizontal stripes arranged in close proximity that represents passive, or submissive. I have combined these symbols to represent our community’s foundation of Dominance and submissiveness. This is an ambiguous symbol to the unknowing. It is neither masculine nor feminine. It is neither gay nor straight. It fits us all."


From Master Tallen's speech at the Master/slaves conference in Washington DC 2005