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Subject:Using the Term "User" From:"Karl L. Smart" <KARLSM -at- WORDPERFECT -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 3 Dec 1993 09:54:21 -0700
In the computer industry, the term "user" is a generally accepted term for
those who work with computers. I have had several folks (particularly
from Eastern big city areas) suggest that we should consider changing
the term--using terms such as "the audience," "the reader," "the
operator," "the customer," or a specific name if known (like banker,
lawyer, teacher, etc.)
The reasoning is that the term "user" has extremely strong connotations
with drug users, and that an alternative term would be more appropriate.
I'm interested in how others feel. If you don't like the term user, what
alternatives would you suggest.
Obviously, this has lots of ramifications. We have users' groups, a
user's guide, and so forth.
______________________
Karl Smart
WordPerfect Corporation
karlsm -at- wordperfect -dot- com
______________________
P.S. I'm a recent subscriber to the mail list. I saw some discussion about
style checkers to use with word processing. WordPerfect 6.0 (for
Windows and DOS) now has a style checker (Grammatik) as an
intergrated part of the program. It works much the same way as you
would use Speller or Thesaurus.
