Open Letter: How the FOSS Community May Help Disabled Users

[taharka]

How do,

On Fri, 2006-04-28 at 18:15 -0500, Jeff Vian wrote:
> On Fri, 2006-04-28 at 17:15 -0500, Les Mikesell wrote:
> > On Fri, 2006-04-28 at 16:54, Jeff Vian wrote:
> > 
> > > > Might I suggest in the future, you use the terms physically/mentally
> > > > challenged instead of disabled users? Here in the U.S. there is a never
> > > > ending supply of politically correct nuts :-((
> > > > 
> > > Just because you prefer politically correct terminology does not mean
> > > everyone has to mollify your sensibilities.
> > > 
> > > I would never ask someone from a different area to change their language
> > > use just to satisfy me.
> > 
> > I think you are missing the point.  If someone wants Linux to
> 
> Hardly.
> 
> > be able to compete against commercial software then it has to
> > compete on the acceptability and political correctness fronts
> > as well.  I realize a lot of people don't care one way or the
> > other and in the free software world market share doesn't matter
> > but at least they should recognize that the issue exists.  That
> > is, commercial software and the people promoting it do make
> > concessions to satisfy the potential customers.
> 
> Sometimes.
> My post was about the attitude of one poster, and his demand for
> politically correct terminology and not about the topic that started
> this thread.

OK, if you're referring to me, just where did you read I demanded for
politically correct terminology? Also, note the topic/subject does have
Disabled Users in it. Perhaps Mike McCarty/others like him would have
been more receptive to a "Open Letter:How the FOSS Community May Help
Physically Challenged Users" subject line ;-)

> > 
> > > You are free to reply with the terms you prefer, just as Marco is free
> > > to use the phrases he wishes.
> > 
> > And the potential users are free to avoid dealing with people using
> > phrases they dislike and the products they handle.
> > 
> That is my point exactly.  Pandering to the demanding is just that,
> pandering.  It is to a great extent detrimental to the overall
> community.  Keeping the atmosphere friendly and welcoming is much better
> than trying to set artificial rules about what one can or cannot say
> and/or how they say it.
> 
> Being a bit understanding and recognizing that others have their own
> standards makes the atmosphere more open and easier to deal with and
> invites participation.  
> Having the attitude that "you have to meet my personal standards" (which
> is what I responded to) is not in any way productive and is instead
> terribly negative.
> 
> It seems many others felt my point was exactly on target. Too bad you
> are not as open minded. 
> Telling them to go away as you did with the phrase above is not helpful
> at all.
> 
> > -- 
> >   Les Mikesell
> >    lesmikesell at gmail.com
> > 
> > 
>