TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
> > as
> > TWs, it is our responsibility to examine the terminology
> > we use and determine how our readers will be affected by
> > it.
>
> As tech writers, IMHO, it is our job to inform our readers about the
> product. Period.
Exactly. And to inform our readers about the product, we have to use the right
terminology. Our decision to use or not use a particular word should be based on
our readers -- do they understand it? Does the industry use it? If the industry
stops using a term because enough users find it confusing or offensive, it would
be ridiculous for us to refuse to follow along simply because someone on
techwr-l accused us of being "PC."
> > This does not mean changing it on our own because we
> > consider it "offensive" or refusing to follow everyone
> > else's change because we consider it "PC." If an
> > industry has stopped using a particular term, we should
> > also stop using it.
>
> We all need to use our judgement in these matters, consult with peers (as
> this thread is certainly doing), and try to "do the right thing." However,
> on the matter of terminology such as "master/slave", I think it's (again,
> IMHO) political correctness of the WORST sort to stop using that sort of
> terminology in the same way the threading of certain hardware being "male"
> and "female" makes some people blush.
But if our customers and industry stop using that terminology, it doesn't matter
if we agree with that decision or not. We have to go along.
> > The fact that "master/slave" is still
> > in use doesn't mean it's a bad thing to check every once
> > in a while.
>
> Check for what? That hard drives still have dominant/submissive tendencies?
> <g>
Well, I know my hard drive is submissive, as it seems to like a good whack now
and then. :-) No, to check and see if our industry is still using that
terminology, if our customers still expect that terminology.
Tracy
--
=======================================================
Tracy Boyington mailto:tracy_boyington -at- okvotech -dot- org
Oklahoma Department of Vocational & Technical Education
Stillwater, Oklahoma http://www.okvotech.org/cimc
Give a hoot... read a book
=======================================================
