ADL Mark Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Hi Everybody, Touchy subject I know, all this PC stuff. But.. I need to know the 'politically correct' term for computer users in general. It's for a presentation for a job interview, local authority kind of thing so want to get the terms right. I think 'customer' is the PC term for them, but want to see if anybody has any other opinions. Correct or funny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Consumer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobSheffield Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Geek? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ugp Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 end user? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guigsy Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 User. Whats wrong with that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 Geek? I thought I was the geek as the engineer? User. Whats wrong with that? Nothing wrong with it, it's just that in the job spec they mention 'customers' and I assume they are referring to 'users'. For the presentation, I have put in customers but an old manager suggested this didn't sound right. When I told him why I'd done it he thought it sounded strange but maybe customers was the PC way to refer to them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Authority's refer to them as "customers". Whilst its wrong, its how they work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 Cheers Daman, that confirms what I thought. Just want to get it right, and not standing there calling them users when they refer to them as customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest krakkos Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 I've also heard 'Service Users' and 'Clients' PC gone mad i tells ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonB Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 A customer is anyone you are providing a service to. Sometimes people forget that though, especially in support type roles. Calling them customers is probably a way of giving you a hint that you need to treat them as customers who you need to be focussed on and try and help rather than just telling them to reboot it and hope for the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 The fuckwit without a clue works for me Referring to them as the 'client' usually works well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Button punching monkeys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 I've also heard 'Service Users' and 'Clients' PC gone mad i tells ya. Couldn't agree more! A customer is anyone you are providing a service to. Sometimes people forget that though, especially in support type roles. Calling them customers is probably a way of giving you a hint that you need to treat them as customers who you need to be focussed on and try and help rather than just telling them to reboot it and hope for the best. Yes that is true Simon, good point of view there too thank you. They are asking for excellent customer-facing skills so that fits your theory very well. The fuckwit without a clue works for me Referring to them as the 'client' usually works well... We may think it, but we mustn't say it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 normal ones: users - a drug user customer - someone in a shop client - a person who has a bit of money to spend funny ones: nerds chimps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 ITIL tends to use the term customers. I use the term customer when presenting to business management. I slip into the term users when dealing with technical people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 An (computer) operator? That's an old job title that my dad used to be called back the the day with punched cards etc. Good luck though, all the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 ITIL tends to use the term customers. I use the term customer when presenting to business management. I slip into the term users when dealing with technical people. Ah thanks ozz, obviously being local authority they use and specifically mention ITIL. It's not something I know very well yet, but obviously carries it's own terminology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADL Mark Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 Cheers Andrew, Operator's are generally considered semi-techie though whereas users are more 'the unwashed many' lol.. Cheers for the good luck wishes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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