On Fri, Apr 15, 2011 at 11:49:14AM +0200, Jonas Smedegaard wrote:
> To google" only means "to search the web using one specific service
> which happens to be very popular". Just as (at least in Denmark)
> non-geeks since long use the term "Word" to mean "word processor" even
> though it only means "one specific word processor which happens to be
> very popular". I have tried fighting it in public schools where
> teachers are supposed to teach generic skills, not train for a
> particular environment (which is anyway outdated when the kids finish
> school).
I agree that my example "to google" was perhaps not perfect. Probably
the term "Excel sheet" instead of spreadsheet, or PowerPoint
presentation instead of overhead presentation or something like this
would have been a better example.
> When my brother and I - back in the dark ages when only geeks had heard
> of the term "Linux" - tried persuade some public schools to adopt use of
> Linux, he made an observation: Don't say that it is "similar to Windows"
> because then they will always treat it as a (cheaper) imitation of "the
> real thing".
>
> Similar is my reasoning that we should not use a term which non-geeks
> have adopted as meaning "members-only shop for commercial and freeware
> applications".
I got your point. That's why I pointed out in at least two of my mails
that the real thing in fact was just invented *here*. Thus I would
rather try to turn around the argument: Those propriatary app stores
just use what we are doing since a long time.
> It does not matter if Debian was here first.
IMHO this does matter.
> As you mention yourself it
> is very important how our users comprehend the terms: our "store" do not
> fit the modern use of the term, so embracing it confuses and devaluates
> more than it helps our users in understanding what we offer them.
At first I had my doubts about this. However Ben (as a native speaker)
explained that this is not necessarily true. BTW, aren't there app
stores that contain some free (as in beer) apps as well? We just have
everything for free (and will explain the beer versus speach in the
next lession).
Kind regards
Andreas.
--
http://fam-tille.de
--
To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-project-requ...@lists.debian.org
with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org
Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20110415101043.gc16...@an3as.eu
