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Subject:Hypothetical Un-PC Questions.... From:Rose Wilcox <RWILC -at- FAST -dot- DOT -dot- STATE -dot- AZ -dot- US> Date:Wed, 7 Jun 1995 15:48:00 PDT
Techwhirlers:
Okay, here are two "hypothetical" examples that a writer "may" have run into
when working for a government agency. I have not formed a clear opinion on
what a writer's role would be in these situations. Because of the on-going
"to PC or not to PC" discussions, I would be interested in your opinions and
comments on these examples.
Question: Should the writer point out the "un-PC-ness" -- excuse my
language -- of either or both of these examples to the development team
and/or the management?
Example 1:
In a "Programmer's Guide" that is to be used by future maintenance
programmers documenting the database. The database field name is
"indian_tribe" and the field description is "Indian tribe blah-de-dah".
Should the writer tell the database guy that the database field name needs
to be changed because it isn't "Native American"?
Example 2:
On a "button" in an application used by Field Engineers: "Men/Equipment".
Should the writer advise the team that the button name should be changed so
as not to discriminate against women?
Thank you in advance for your opinions.
Rosie Wilcox
rwilc -at- fast -dot- dot -dot- state -dot- az -dot- us
ncrowe -at- primenet -dot- com
Morality is society's rules for the individual's survival; ethics is the
individual's rules for society's survival. - Theodore Sturgeon
