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Subject:Re: While we're on the topic of words . . . From:Ann Amsler <aamsler -at- BACH -dot- UDEL -dot- EDU> Date:Thu, 3 Feb 1994 09:45:59 -0500
I've never liked "pro-active" either, but I hear it all too often in
my department. Since we're trying to support 20,000+ computer users, and
keeping up with software and hardware changes is impossible, I think the
term is used in the sense of "head 'em off at the pass." In other words,
get to the users before they get frustrated and angry.
I understand why people say "pro-active," but it grates on me too.
Do we dare ask where this term came from?
By the way, I'm a "thing," not a "think" person (raised in WV, went to
school in Pittsburgh, PA; Milwaukee, WI; and Columbus, OH; have been
in DE since 1976 and had never heard "think" until it appeared on the net).
I'm still looking for sources, but haven't come up with anything.