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  4. Calling people ‘users’ is unethical and outdated

Calling people ‘users’ is unethical and outdated

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Insider News
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  • P PeejayAdams

    Reading between the lines, I think that Mark thinks that the guy who wrote the article is a bit of a plonker. He may well be right.

    Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. - Mark Twain

    M Offline
    M Offline
    Mark_Wallace
    wrote on last edited by
    #8

    I shall make an effort not to prevaricate too much, in future.

    I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

    N 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • L Lost User

      SomeIdiot wrote:

      I can either keep using language I disagree with, or I can begin to search for what’s next. I choose to search.

      That is so extremely idiotic I need to mail the author. Either you use the terminology of the field, or you sod off and go flip hamburgers.

      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

      P Offline
      P Offline
      PeejayAdams
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      +5 for quote attribution!

      Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. - Mark Twain

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • K Kent Sharkey

        The Next Web[^]:

        I’ve worked in UX for the better part of a decade. From now on, I plan to remove the word “user” and any associated terms—like “UX” and “user experience”—from my vocabulary.

        I know, let's replace it with 'victim'

        :sigh:

        Richard DeemingR Offline
        Richard DeemingR Offline
        Richard Deeming
        wrote on last edited by
        #10

        Kent Sharkey wrote:

        I know, let's replace it with 'victim'

        Some other alternatives that spring to mind:

        • Beta-testers;
        • Wetware;
        • Suckers;

        "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer

        "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined" - Homer

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • K Kent Sharkey

          The Next Web[^]:

          I’ve worked in UX for the better part of a decade. From now on, I plan to remove the word “user” and any associated terms—like “UX” and “user experience”—from my vocabulary.

          I know, let's replace it with 'victim'

          :sigh:

          realJSOPR Offline
          realJSOPR Offline
          realJSOP
          wrote on last edited by
          #11

          At this pace, we won't be able to use terms such as "server", "thread", or "service".

          ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
          -----
          You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
          -----
          When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

          F 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • realJSOPR realJSOP

            At this pace, we won't be able to use terms such as "server", "thread", or "service".

            ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
            -----
            You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
            -----
            When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

            F Offline
            F Offline
            Forogar
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            I had an (ex-)fellow developer complain that I wrote code referring to "master" and "slave" components!

            - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

            I 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • K Kent Sharkey

              The Next Web[^]:

              I’ve worked in UX for the better part of a decade. From now on, I plan to remove the word “user” and any associated terms—like “UX” and “user experience”—from my vocabulary.

              I know, let's replace it with 'victim'

              :sigh:

              W Offline
              W Offline
              W Balboos GHB
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              In the great scheme of things, calling them 'users' and :elephant:ing nicer than what I call them most of the time.

              Ravings en masse^

              "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

              "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • K Kent Sharkey

                The Next Web[^]:

                I’ve worked in UX for the better part of a decade. From now on, I plan to remove the word “user” and any associated terms—like “UX” and “user experience”—from my vocabulary.

                I know, let's replace it with 'victim'

                :sigh:

                J Offline
                J Offline
                Joe Woodbury
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                Why first thought was that the author is an idiot. Then, I wondered if he was being ironic and read the article. The author is an idiot.

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • K Kent Sharkey

                  The Next Web[^]:

                  I’ve worked in UX for the better part of a decade. From now on, I plan to remove the word “user” and any associated terms—like “UX” and “user experience”—from my vocabulary.

                  I know, let's replace it with 'victim'

                  :sigh:

                  T Offline
                  T Offline
                  TNCaver
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #15

                  This is a sign of the times, when we have people constantly on the lookout for something new to be offended about.

                  If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP.

                  D 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • T TNCaver

                    This is a sign of the times, when we have people constantly on the lookout for something new to be offended about.

                    If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP.

                    D Offline
                    D Offline
                    Dar Brett 0
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    I find that point of view offensive!

                    N T 2 Replies Last reply
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                    • M Mark_Wallace

                      I shall make an effort not to prevaricate too much, in future.

                      I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

                      N Offline
                      N Offline
                      Nelek
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      Calling him idiot from the very beginning?

                      M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • D Dar Brett 0

                        I find that point of view offensive!

                        N Offline
                        N Offline
                        Nelek
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        Write a blog and cry us a river :rolleyes:

                        M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • L Lost User

                          SomeIdiot wrote:

                          I can either keep using language I disagree with, or I can begin to search for what’s next. I choose to search.

                          That is so extremely idiotic I need to mail the author. Either you use the terminology of the field, or you sod off and go flip hamburgers.

                          Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                          D Offline
                          D Offline
                          Dominic Burford
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19

                          Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                          SomeIdiot wrote:

                          I can either keep using language I disagree with, or I can begin to search for what’s next. I choose to search.

                          Stunning and brave :cool:

                          "There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • K Kent Sharkey

                            The Next Web[^]:

                            I’ve worked in UX for the better part of a decade. From now on, I plan to remove the word “user” and any associated terms—like “UX” and “user experience”—from my vocabulary.

                            I know, let's replace it with 'victim'

                            :sigh:

                            M Offline
                            M Offline
                            Marco Bertschi
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #20

                            Brain dead stupid.

                            Quote:

                            In product design, “user” and the other U-words have been foundational to defining the relationship between humans and tech. The former uses. The latter is used. But labeling people as users strips them of complexity. It reduces humans to a single behavior, effectively supporting a view of people as more like robots whose sole function is to use a product or feature.

                            That's a strong hint that he is useless as someone in the UX/Usability field. The entire field is about defining users, and understanding what behaviors they most commonly expose (hint: it's almost never a single one). His writing clearly shows that he did not understand his job, or role in the industry.

                            I only have a signature in order to let @DalekDave follow my posts.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • K Kent Sharkey

                              The Next Web[^]:

                              I’ve worked in UX for the better part of a decade. From now on, I plan to remove the word “user” and any associated terms—like “UX” and “user experience”—from my vocabulary.

                              I know, let's replace it with 'victim'

                              :sigh:

                              M Offline
                              M Offline
                              Marc Clifton
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21

                              I always thought the word "user" was a bit odd. "Users" to me were drug addicts. Oh, wait...

                              Latest Article - Slack-Chatting with you rPi Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802

                              M 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • M Marc Clifton

                                I always thought the word "user" was a bit odd. "Users" to me were drug addicts. Oh, wait...

                                Latest Article - Slack-Chatting with you rPi Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802

                                M Offline
                                M Offline
                                Mark_Wallace
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                If all you've got is lemons, make lemonade. If all you've got is junkies, give 'em junk.

                                I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • D Dar Brett 0

                                  I find that point of view offensive!

                                  T Offline
                                  T Offline
                                  TNCaver
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  :laugh:

                                  If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • F Forogar

                                    I had an (ex-)fellow developer complain that I wrote code referring to "master" and "slave" components!

                                    - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

                                    I Offline
                                    I Offline
                                    irneb
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #24

                                    It's on a PC ... right? You gotta have them social correct PC's! None of your gradfather's PC's. They didn't know what they were doing wrong. You should always have only peer-to-peer without any governing control! All PC's must be equal, only some of tem needs to be more equal than others.

                                    F 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • I irneb

                                      It's on a PC ... right? You gotta have them social correct PC's! None of your gradfather's PC's. They didn't know what they were doing wrong. You should always have only peer-to-peer without any governing control! All PC's must be equal, only some of tem needs to be more equal than others.

                                      F Offline
                                      F Offline
                                      Forogar
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #25

                                      It's OK. I changed them to be "Mistress" and "Slave" and they never said another word about it!

                                      - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

                                      I 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • F Forogar

                                        It's OK. I changed them to be "Mistress" and "Slave" and they never said another word about it!

                                        - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

                                        I Offline
                                        I Offline
                                        irneb
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #26

                                        Yeah, but now it needs to be R-rated! At least it's less anti-PC than my first idea: Despot -> Minion.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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