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I have been watching all this "conversation" about being anthropomorphic
with interest; however, just today I came across an example that truly
fit. Thought I would share.
This brochure we've been working on describes the functions of a
database, essentially a program that provides a user with specific
environmental information. The program is called MEL, and after some
out of house revisions suddenly he was personified so much that MEL was
not only searching (as a program can) but also it now seemed that MEL
was striving and planning! Clearly this program cannot do either!
I thought this a terrific example of anthropomorphisms. Funny how a
writer can humanize a computer or program and not really notice it.
Karen Wiley
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
karen -dot- wiley -at- jhuapl -dot- edu
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