RE: Terminology nitpicking (was: Positive feedback...)

[Melanie Shook <mshook -at- com2001 -dot- com>]

I think it depends on how accepted the terminology is in common usage.  No
matter how saddened or peeved Stallman, Sandy and others are, terms like
"hacker" and "positive feedback" have long term accepted meanings in the
mainstream (American) culture that differ from their original meanings.  No
matter how many retractions or explanatory articles are published, these
shared cultural meanings (the basis of human language) will persist over the
original technical senses.  Like Tracy also pointed out, everyone knows what
is meant by using these terms.  The technical sense would be apparent and
known in any context where it is appropriate, such as a journal article.

IMHO, technical writers should write clearly and effectively using whatever
terminology best suits the communication, regardless of the origination of
that terminology.  (Although I doubt any of these particular terms would
surface in any of my user manuals.) ;)



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