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Programmers are the worst-speaking professionals

Created 2022-06-09

Time for an old man shouts at clouds rant ...

Github announced recently that is is "sunsetting" Atom. Can we please just talk normally and speak plainly? Instead of saying "sunsetting", call it what it is: discontinuing. Is it really so hard to say that they are "discontinuing Atom"?

When you think about it, the underlying rationale for Microsoft's choice of words is really a form of deceptive manipulation. Activities are sugar-coated, making them seem better than they are. I personally do not care that Atom is being discontinued, but I do object to the way it is worded.

"Compelling update experience." That was a phrase that a Microsoft employee once used to talk about Windows 11 updates. I have never installed Windows 10 or 11 on my machines, but from what I have heard, the update experience can best be desribed as a clusterf*ck. Well, I guess it is compelling in the sense that Microsoft is going to try to forcefeed the updates down your throat no matter what. Or compelling in the sense that it makes you feel like throwing your computer out the window. It is certainly not compelling in the sense that it is a joyful experience.

Also, can we please stop over-using superlatives? This is not Microsoft-specific thing, this is more of a social media thing. It is a practise that needs to stop. Not everything is at an extreme end of experience. Use words that reflect the accuracy of the content. It's not an "awesome" cake, it's a "delicious" cake. It is a sign of emotional immaturity to express all experiences in hyperbolic terms.

You never hear of chemists say how "awesome" their H2O is. They will talk in technical terms about purity levels. The same goes for phyicists, lawyers, accountants, etc.. When did you last hear that a doctor discovered an "awesome" cure for cancer? You didn't!

So please, if you are a programmer, please talk in a more professional, measured, tone. Show some maturity. Stop turning everything into a sales pitch.

And that's what grinds my gears.