In My Opinion ...

I was talking to a friend, well actually a female co-worker, and I used a slightly tilted word, "babe." Yes, she called me on it immediately. At the time I justified it as saying I used the word independent of gender. I was so convincing I actually believed it myself! After thinking about it, I even convinced myself to try using the word in a conversation with a male co-worker. Needless to say, the look I got immediately straightened (no pun intended) me out and I have since minded my vocabulary. After learning my lesson, I became more aware of such misplaced familiarities.

While it may become increasingly obvious that I am a novice at writing for the public in general, I hope I do not make the same mistake that has driven me to pick-up the pen, un lapiz, thy quill? What am I going on about? How does this relate to computers? Well, what do Clifford Stoll, flamboyant Astronomer and Security Consultant, Peter DeJager, Management Consultant assigned to "the year 2000 problem", and Representative Connie Morella, Technical Sub-Committee Chairwoman have in common? Yes! ABC's Nightline. Huh!?! ABC's Nightline, hosted by Aaron Brown on January 1, 1997, did an expose' called "Race Against Time." The story highlighted the computer industry's plight to fight the year 2000 problem. The computer industry has historically tried to save computer memory, time and money by only requiring a user to enter the last two digits of the year. When the year 2000 is referenced, most computers either assume 00 to be an error, or the year 1900.

Clifford Stoll was in rare form on ABC's Nightline. Mr. Stoll was professional, to the point and seemingly sedated with his realistic view of the computer industry. Mr. Stoll said the computer industry will most likely find the year 2000 computer problems after they become problems, in the year 2000.

Peter DeJager was in direct contrast to Mr. Stoll. Mr. DeJager maintains a rather doomful view of how this is not a revelation of the future, but a dilemma now! Mr. DeJager continued by quoting how most business software today will not take 00 in a two digit year field; how a 104 year old woman was sent an invitation to kindergarten when she was assumed to be 4; and how some prisoners were released after a computer mistook 00 to mean they were to be release in 1900, not 2000.

The controversy I am addressing now, however, is not the year 2000 problem, but the craze of the public and the media to use buzz words in an embarrassingly inappropriate manner.

The "spark that has fired" my concern was Aaron Brown, the host of ABC's Nightline, saying to Representative Connie Morella, "it cannot be sexy' to address congress concerning the year 2000 problem". I gasped before I realized the misplaced context. For those of you that do not know, and I do not expect 99% of America to know, the buzz word "sexy" was originally used to describe well written computer code between members of a computer programming team. The term has developed today to mean "exciting" when referring to something "neat" having to do with computers between familiar people. I would like to stress this point, the point, MY POINT! Slang has a place between familiar people in the proper context, but I do not think that place is on the news. Slang only clouds the real meaning, and in this case it could offend the listeners. I must say however, Representative Morella was not seemingly phased by the "misuse" of the term "sexy" and responded in a professional manner.

I talked with Clifford Stoll on January 2, 1997 concerning his appearance on the television show, ABC's Nightline. We discussed everything from his belief that using computers is a "mental not an emotional experience", to the inability of America's youth to add sales tax to a stick of chapstick and subtract the change from the amount paid without a computer. He left me with two quick points as someone appeared at his door. "As computer jocks it is our responsibility to promote a realistic view of computing", and "'Sexy' does not apply to appearing before congress".

So to paraphrase every English Teacher and Technical Writing Instructor I can remember, "the key to success is to know your audience and not use slang terms."

Do you have an opinion you are just dying to express related to computing? Send it to us and we'll consider printing it. No guarantees, but no outright denials either. Send your musings to lynch@unt.edu

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