How-To Geek

This from the Department of Redundancy Department.

Many computer terms seem redundant, and given to ostentatious and useless jargon.

For example:

1. "Definition Database" - In many cases, the single word "Definitions" would be sufficient. Granted, the use of "Database" can indicate the entire list of definitions, but still in many cases, as I just said, "Definitions" would suffice.

2. "Desktop Environment" - Again, in many cases "Desktop" would suffice.

3. "Character set" - much like "definition database", there are times when the word "set" can be meaningful. But in a lot of cases, "Characters" alone would be sufficient.

The reason I mention this is because a lot of times geeks seem to use this jargon for noobs, and only succeed in confusing them further with intimidating lingo. Geek to geek is OK, but when it comes to geek to noob, I think dispensing with lingo when possible is the way to go.

May be stating the obvious here, but I think sometimes geeks (and I myself am only a "student geek" anyway) forget and slide comfortably into the lingo.

Other examples . . . and thoughts??

BJ

since were talking about terms i dont think i like the term "noob" i like newbe better lol.

mpc, nice to see you back. Where have you been hiding all this time?

I want to stick my nose in here to make a quick point :) I am in no way, shape or form, a geek...would love to be, but unfortunately I don't think I have the brains for it (not that I'm stupid, heck no!).

Anyway, I get that new people should learn the jargon so as to understand more easily things that are said, especially when asking for a solution to a problem in which they might get an answer that makes them scratch their head in confusion, then, embarrassed, have to say, "I don't understand a thing you just said."

But, am I right in assuming that you can pretty much tell when you're speaking to someone who is not exactly tech-savvy by the questions they ask, and their wording? If so, it might be helpful when answering a question, to put, in parentheses or something, a layman's term or description so that person can begin to make an association that will be helpful in the future. Also, other 'newbies' who aren't even asking the question, but are reading, can learn from that.

Wow, I'm a comma addict, sorry :D

I have noticed that I have very few 'huh?' moments here, so that's nice :) Also, from what I've seen thus far, there aren't huge egos that enjoy making others feel stupid.

On another forum recently, a person who was obviously new asked for help and the response they got was something along the lines of, "If you don't know that, you don't belong here", which I thought was incredibly rude. I haven't seen that here, and for the most part, those that try to help have a persistence that most doctors trying to save a life probably don't have LOL! ;)

So, keep up the good work! I've learned tons since I subscribed to this feed.

Is it time for an HTG glossary? I thought we already had something like that in the wiki. It would certainly be the right place to put it.

I'm sure I'm guilty of using jargon without defining it, but I can't think of an example. If I read over my own posts, any tech buzzwords that I used would be completely natural to me and not set off any alarms. Someone else will have to point out my assumptions to me, because I can't see them as such.

One thing I do is try to always write-out an abbreviation once before using it. We geeks are so fond of our Three-Letter Acronyms (TLA) that the very phrase to described them has it's own TLA. That's not redundant, it's self-referential. Something that I usually assume is that the reader can look up any terms they don't know in Wikipedia or google it. Maybe that's a bad assumption, but I don't always know the expertise level of my audience.

The point on pictures is very good. Whenever I have the feeling that someone is still early in the learning stages, I like to use pictures. Sometimes they are also handy to avoid a lot of verbage in which one can get easily lost. Additionally I think, newcomers to the computer arts should be encouraged to tell us whether they need simple steps - some people do that and it helps. I think the people on this Forum must do a good job because there are many new members every day - especially ladies. And they would not be here if they felt uncomfortable.

Now there is a point. When I learnt computing, there was no Internet. It had to be books & trial and error. Is interactive learning good for a newcomer? There is lot's of mal-advice out there, as I think a lot of us have seen.

hey whs,i have been here all along,its just my pc is running great.and if i do have a question i just go to an old post to find the answer.thanks for asking.on the term issue geek and non-geek is a good one.good to talk to you guys again.

@sourpuss, I have a Lisa too - since 20 years; and she is tender. I like to think that this is the norm.