Is correcting someone's tech mistake rude?
John Chan | Jan 30, 2009
I use acronyms that describe mobile technology frequently in my job and the people that who around me have no problems understanding things like HSDPA, CDMA and GPRS. It's thus easy to forget that these are not terms that everyone can relate to easily and a conversation I overheard on my daily commute reminded me of that.
Two men were talking about buying the iPhone 3G instead of an unlocked first-generation iPhone. One of them mentioned surfing the Web on the train using GPS, and the second guy said he should get the latest version in that case.
Both were probably thinking of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) when they spoke of GPS (Global Positioning System). If I wasn't merely an eavesdropper and knew these two gentlemen, I would have corrected them and also mentioned that the latest iPhone would use HSDPA for data transfers on the train, not the agonizingly slow GPRS.
What about you? Do you correct your friends when they make mistakes like that? Or do feel it's rude to do so, just like correcting someone's grammar (unless you are a teacher or editor)? Tell us what you think.
Talkback
littlejo says...
Hey John! You sure are right about people making mistakes when discussing tech terms. What we take for granted is often seen as jargon for most people. I try not to correct people unless I'm involved in the discussion. Otherwise, it'd be a pain to go and explain what,why,how,where and who. That's why I probably hang out with you guys. ha ha
Jan 30, 2009 15:18
Hey John! You sure are right about people making mistakes when discussing tech terms. What we take for granted is often seen as jargon for most people. I try not to correct people unless I'm involved in the discussion. Otherwise, it'd be a pain to go and explain what,why,how,where and who. That's why I probably hang out with you guys. ha ha
Jan 30, 2009 15:18
LipWorks says...
My take is to not correct these people. If they had a decent amount of interest, it does not require an engineering degree to get the acronyms correct. People just like to chat, that is how gossips get very popular and not only around water coolers. So these people are gossiping about phones and gossips are not always accurate, let them have fun. If you were at any time invited to give your comments, then please do correct whatever was wrong if it is directly linked to a buying decision. The man on the train who tried to suggest HSDPA did not even bother to ask how heavy an internet user the other man was, that is what happens in gossip talk, better don't join and be the nosey gossip king.
Jan 30, 2009 15:35
My take is to not correct these people. If they had a decent amount of interest, it does not require an engineering degree to get the acronyms correct. People just like to chat, that is how gossips get very popular and not only around water coolers. So these people are gossiping about phones and gossips are not always accurate, let them have fun. If you were at any time invited to give your comments, then please do correct whatever was wrong if it is directly linked to a buying decision. The man on the train who tried to suggest HSDPA did not even bother to ask how heavy an internet user the other man was, that is what happens in gossip talk, better don't join and be the nosey gossip king.
Jan 30, 2009 15:35
guynax says...
i would correct them, especially, if it's my friends. yah, it maybe rude, but it's better than embarrassed by someone he/she don't know when mistakes are pointed out, rite?
Jan 30, 2009 16:03
i would correct them, especially, if it's my friends. yah, it maybe rude, but it's better than embarrassed by someone he/she don't know when mistakes are pointed out, rite?
Jan 30, 2009 16:03
zveloyak says...
See the context and study or anticipate the "water face." Next tone your tone and best of all say some pre-words or general comment to ease to the specific case so they are not taken by surprise or the bluntness a sort of by the way or as an example. For all we know the whole process might be accompanied by a good laugh as a song is all the better if accompanied by music. Just my duasen.
Jan 30, 2009 17:03
See the context and study or anticipate the "water face." Next tone your tone and best of all say some pre-words or general comment to ease to the specific case so they are not taken by surprise or the bluntness a sort of by the way or as an example. For all we know the whole process might be accompanied by a good laugh as a song is all the better if accompanied by music. Just my duasen.
Jan 30, 2009 17:03
dennisrozales says...
in most asian countries as long as it is your close friend one on one it would be nice to correct the person, but if there is another party -forget about it "it will surely embarass the guy and could be heartache forever.
Jan 31, 2009 00:06
in most asian countries as long as it is your close friend one on one it would be nice to correct the person, but if there is another party -forget about it "it will surely embarass the guy and could be heartache forever.
Jan 31, 2009 00:06
xdarwinian says...
If a co-worker commits mistake by saying the wrong technical term in a discussion, it is just right to correct him or her in that manner. I don't want them saying the same to our customers that may mislead them.
Jan 31, 2009 10:58
If a co-worker commits mistake by saying the wrong technical term in a discussion, it is just right to correct him or her in that manner. I don't want them saying the same to our customers that may mislead them.
Jan 31, 2009 10:58
anomac says...
You have opened a can of worms here John. When is it correct to correct anyone. Lets drop the technology bit for the moment.
It comes down to time I think. We are all time poor, even me living in Bali, so much to do. So the question is that person worthy of my time? more apt. If you are on a train and you really have nothing better to do, then yes, I think you should have apologized introduced yourself or at least your credentials and corrected the two gentlemen. Given them the benefit of your knowledge. Through this we will learn.
But when I see one of your own staff answer one of my posts with incredibly bad English, actually I didn't really understand his post. Still don't. See for yourselves
"techguy says...
@anomac: Do you think touchscreens will do rather than a Wacom? Since most of the new notebooks/netbooks will be having a touchscreen interface. You can actually directly on screen. Thanks... "
...well no. I will not correct him.
Why? He didn't have time (lets face it, it's rude!, Manners maketh the man) for me when he answered my post, doesn't take long to go through and correct his English (Lets face it, this is an English site!). So the fact that he has no idea of the difference between Wacom Tablets with built in monitors and pressure sensitive styluses and this touch screen on the new laptops so I have neither the time nor inclination to educate him. Sorry Techguy!
Jan 31, 2009 16:58
You have opened a can of worms here John. When is it correct to correct anyone. Lets drop the technology bit for the moment.
It comes down to time I think. We are all time poor, even me living in Bali, so much to do. So the question is that person worthy of my time? more apt. If you are on a train and you really have nothing better to do, then yes, I think you should have apologized introduced yourself or at least your credentials and corrected the two gentlemen. Given them the benefit of your knowledge. Through this we will learn.
But when I see one of your own staff answer one of my posts with incredibly bad English, actually I didn't really understand his post. Still don't. See for yourselves
"techguy says...
@anomac: Do you think touchscreens will do rather than a Wacom? Since most of the new notebooks/netbooks will be having a touchscreen interface. You can actually directly on screen. Thanks... "
...well no. I will not correct him.
Why? He didn't have time (lets face it, it's rude!, Manners maketh the man) for me when he answered my post, doesn't take long to go through and correct his English (Lets face it, this is an English site!). So the fact that he has no idea of the difference between Wacom Tablets with built in monitors and pressure sensitive styluses and this touch screen on the new laptops so I have neither the time nor inclination to educate him. Sorry Techguy!
Jan 31, 2009 16:58
tng153 says...
well, it would depend, if its a person i konw i would correct him, but if the person is a stranger then it would depend, u can never suddenly poke in the middle of a conversation, but if i am in the conversation or if am invited then correcting them would be fine. But getting the tine right is also very important.
Jan 31, 2009 20:12
well, it would depend, if its a person i konw i would correct him, but if the person is a stranger then it would depend, u can never suddenly poke in the middle of a conversation, but if i am in the conversation or if am invited then correcting them would be fine. But getting the tine right is also very important.
Jan 31, 2009 20:12
mook73 says...
i wouldn't correct any strangers but simply amazed by how ignorant people could be. if the comment something which we read off the specs, it will be unforgivable. i still will not correct them. i will, if they are friends but not all friends, as i hate to spend too long trying to explain from the beginning of time. too tedious and they may not like at all too. well, that's me.
Feb 01, 2009 20:33
i wouldn't correct any strangers but simply amazed by how ignorant people could be. if the comment something which we read off the specs, it will be unforgivable. i still will not correct them. i will, if they are friends but not all friends, as i hate to spend too long trying to explain from the beginning of time. too tedious and they may not like at all too. well, that's me.
Feb 01, 2009 20:33
xtrememorph says...
Since we know, we should correct them to avoid future misunderstand. However it all depends if the person can take the correction or not or even accept their mistakes.
Feb 02, 2009 08:14
Since we know, we should correct them to avoid future misunderstand. However it all depends if the person can take the correction or not or even accept their mistakes.
Feb 02, 2009 08:14
multan says...
I'd correct my friends, but not a complete strangers.
Wouldnt want be caught eavesdropping.
Feb 03, 2009 14:43
I'd correct my friends, but not a complete strangers.
Wouldnt want be caught eavesdropping.
Feb 03, 2009 14:43
rahulsai says...
Intervene with a "smile" , Apologize for overhearing, and quickly add that it is known as this and not that and exit with "smile" again. No issues. The people will feel good to be a little enlightened that way.
Feb 05, 2009 22:57
Intervene with a "smile" , Apologize for overhearing, and quickly add that it is known as this and not that and exit with "smile" again. No issues. The people will feel good to be a little enlightened that way.
Feb 05, 2009 22:57
anomac says...
Finally someone gets it. I agree with Rahulsa. I think the rest of you a little uptight. Do you have problems about learning from other people? or talking to strangers?
Funnily enough all of you can all sit at your computers and type to us, total strangers, but in the flesh you feel there are certain restrictions and boundaries put on us and therefore clam up.
Remember to smile people. Go get em!
Feb 06, 2009 10:49
Finally someone gets it. I agree with Rahulsa. I think the rest of you a little uptight. Do you have problems about learning from other people? or talking to strangers?
Funnily enough all of you can all sit at your computers and type to us, total strangers, but in the flesh you feel there are certain restrictions and boundaries put on us and therefore clam up.
Remember to smile people. Go get em!
Feb 06, 2009 10:49
danielleb3ar says...
it depends on how you corrected the person..if it was in an arrogant, know-it-all tone of correcting, people would take the correction negatively. but if the correction was made in a good way, then people would accept the correction and feel nice about it because they learned something new.
I correct my dad in a joking way because he's a techie-wannabe and gets/confuses his tech terms wrong and he likes the corrections.
Feb 12, 2009 07:23
it depends on how you corrected the person..if it was in an arrogant, know-it-all tone of correcting, people would take the correction negatively. but if the correction was made in a good way, then people would accept the correction and feel nice about it because they learned something new.
I correct my dad in a joking way because he's a techie-wannabe and gets/confuses his tech terms wrong and he likes the corrections.
Feb 12, 2009 07:23
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Well to me it sort of depends on the position you hold and the situation, i would say I'm a knowledgeable person when it comes to tech but i wouldn't exactly correct a stranger (not to come on as a smart ass), unless his going to make a huge mistake. When it comes to my friends however i do, cause they know me, so they wouldn't exactly get the wrong idea. The way one corrects also plays a role.
Jan 30, 2009 15:04