Coworker Vs. Colleague

Colin Angus Mackay

I've noticed in recent posts the use of the word "coworker"? Where did this come from? And, what is wrong with "colleague"? :confused: Really... I can understand some words being phased out in favour of more gender neutral varieties, for instance, when I was a child the people that put out fires were called "firemen" now they are "fire fighters". Examples like those I can understand, but I really don't understand what this modern obsession of calling the people you work with "coworkers" is. [Edit] Is it just me? Am I getting old? (or crazy?) [/Edit] --Colin Mackay--

EuroCPian Spring 2004 Get Together[^] "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." --Zig Ziglar

Lost User

Yes :-D Seriously, its the kind of thing someone comes up with instead of doing work ! The tigress is here :-D

peterchen

For me, Collegue is more the old-world european version, also carrying the notion that you actually have social bonds with the oeple you spend 40+ hrs a week with. Coworker seems more US-ish, and sounds more like a replacable droid you couldn't care less about. (If you conclude that I said US Americans treat their co's a droids, and europeans hug them all day, you are a zealot and have a pimple on your nose)

And you want to travel with her And you want to travel blind .
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Chris Meech

Well, I use 'coworker' for the ones at work who actually work, but I use 'colleague' for the ones at work who do didly sqaut. You know, the guys over in marketing and sales. :) Chris Meech We're more like a hobbiest in a Home Depot drooling at all the shiny power tools, rather than a craftsman that makes the chair to an exacting level of comfort by measuring the customer's butt. Marc Clifton VB is like a toolbox, in the hands of a craftsman, you can end up with some amazing stuff, but without the skills to use it right you end up with Homer Simpson's attempt at building a barbeque or his attempt at a Spice rack. Michael P. Butler

Roger Wright

Colleague has connotations of equality, implying that your coworker is your equal. Coworker, on the other hand, evokes an image of cow orking; whatever orking is, it's certain to be naughty and unsanitary, and consistent with our opinions of those in the office who tend to interrupt our naps. Heard in Bullhead City - "You haven't lost your girl -
you've just lost your turn..." [sigh] So true...

Adam Wimsatt

Coworker is just eaiser to spel! And I knead all the hep I can git. My code isn't buggy. Those are all fleatures.

Stephane Rodriguez

Same in France. Colleague is a very pejorative word about those working with you.

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Tim Smith

No Chit. Tim Smith I'm going to patent thought. I have yet to see any prior art.

Michael A Barnhart

Roger Wright wrote: Colleague has connotations of equality Roger Wright wrote: Coworker, on the other hand I agree with Rogers terms and am opposite to what Chris presents. A Colleague is one of equality and supports the same focus. Many co-workers are my Colleague but definitly not all. I also would include say Roger as a colleage but not a co-worker. I generally say co-worker to imply ones that do not rate to be my colleagues. But can not say it is exclusively so. Yes to be politically correct we carry a number of minimal capability resources. :sigh: "Don't be so anti-american, would you? KaЯl (to Paul Watson on Baseball Bats) 26 Nov '03 "

brianwelsch

Co-worker is used because it contains the common word 'worker'. People can figure out what it means, if they didn't know before. colleague, sounds like a vegatable, which, while accurately describing some co-workers, opens the door for problematic communication. Let's say you're an idiot, and I say, "I'm going for a beer with a colleague". You might stand in confusion at the thought of me at the pub with a sack of some brussel sprouts. Had I said co-worker, it would all be clear. BW CP Member Homepages

"...take what you need and leave the rest..."

Colin Angus Mackay

Michael A. Barnhart wrote: A Colleague is one of equality and supports the same focus. Many co-workers are my Colleague but definitly not all. I also would include say Roger as a colleage but not a co-worker. I generally say co-worker to imply ones that do not rate to be my colleagues. This is the best definition I've got. The dictionary definitions: Dictionary.com wrote: colleague n 1: an associate you work with n 2: a person who is member of your class or profession co-worker n : an associate you work with --Colin Mackay--

EuroCPian Spring 2004 Get Together[^] "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." --Zig Ziglar

Colin Angus Mackay

brianwelsch wrote: Let's say you're an idiot, and I say, "I'm going for a beer with a colleague". You might stand in confusion at the thought of me at the pub with a sack of some brussel sprouts. :laugh::laugh::laugh: --Colin Mackay--

EuroCPian Spring 2004 Get Together[^] "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want." --Zig Ziglar

Ray Cassick

To me there is a difference between the two: Co-worker - Another person that works at the same place I do. Colleague - A person that I work closely with (same group / project, etc…) that I consider a direct peer.

Paul Watson wrote: "At the end of the day it is what you produce that counts, not how many doctorates you have on the wall." George Carlin wrote: "Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things." Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote: If the physicists find a universal theory describing the laws of universe, I'm sure the asshole constant will be an integral part of that theory.

Gary Wheeler

I prefer 'co-serf' or 'co-slave' myself. I understand John Simmons is always on the lookout for 'co-bitches'.

Software Zen: delete this;

jeff_martin

I use them as... colleague - a fellow developer/DBA/etc. Someone in the same field as I am. co-worker - someone who works at the same office/company I do.

NetDave

From Dictonary.com ork Orc \Orc\, n. [L. orca: cf. F. orque.] (Zo["o]l.) The grampus. [Written also ork and orch.] --Milton. and grampus \Gram"pus\, n.; pl. Grampuses. [Probably corrupted from It. gran pesce great fish, or Sp. gran pez, or Pg. gran peixe, all fr. L. grandis piscis. See Grand, and Fish. the animal.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) A toothed delphinoid cetacean, of the genus Grampus, esp. G. griseus of Europe and America, which is valued for its oil. It grows to be fifteen to twenty feet long; its color is gray with white streaks. Called also cowfish. :eek: The California grampus is G. Stearnsii. There must be some sinister relationship here between cows orking fish. QRZ? de WAØTTN

Rohit Sinha

Ya main. I lost my paper to. Regards, Rohit Sinha Browsy

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. - Mother Teresa