TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
> Plainly and simplely, writers have to use the standard
> language of a field, no matter how "offensive" it may
> be outside of that field.
I agree. However, I thought the post you appear to be disagreeing with actually
said the same thing -- as TWs, it is our responsibility to examine the
terminology we use and determine how our readers will be affected by it. This
does not mean changing it on our own because we consider it "offensive" or
refusing to follow everyone else's change because we consider it "PC." If an
industry has stopped using a particular term, we should also stop using it. The
fact that "master/slave" is still in use doesn't mean it's a bad thing to check
every once in a while.
Tracy
--
=======================================================
Tracy Boyington mailto:tracy_boyington -at- okvotech -dot- org
Oklahoma Department of Vocational & Technical Education
Stillwater, Oklahoma http://www.okvotech.org/cimc
Give a hoot... read a book
=======================================================
