Timeline for Would a computer use ‘du’ or ‘Sie’ for the user?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
7 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Apr 18, 2016 at 12:08 | comment | added | Crissov | @FRob They were intended to be “shouted” at the computer. You’re right, though, that action buttons, checkbox labels in configuration options or menu entries usually don’t show an exclamation mark. | |
| Apr 18, 2016 at 12:02 | comment | added | FRob | The last three options are clearly shouting at the user. In fact, they make me feel as if I had done something wrong. Definitely a no-go, IMO. | |
| Apr 18, 2016 at 8:59 | comment | added | Polygnome | @noobsmcgoobs You never adress someone with the informal "du" unless it is either a child, relative or someone who has offered the "du" to you. The usual way to adress someone is the formal "Sie". "Sie" is always the correct, polite way when in doubt. Using "du" when not appropriate will be seen as unprofesional, maybe even sleazy. That being said, wether it is appropriate for a software to adress the user as "du" or "Sie" is matter of some debate. I know of several pieces of software that have both forms "de" for the formal "Sie", and "de-informal" for the informal "du". | |
| Apr 18, 2016 at 5:11 | comment | added | Crissov | @noobsmcgoobs There are some other relevant questions on this matter around here. Both, du and Sie, directly involve the addressee, thereby creating some kind of personal closeness, but du is of course more intimate and (usually) friendly. Sie may be expected due to hierarchy or respect and violations of such customs (in both directions) may be used as insults or even to emphasize a curse word. | |
| Apr 17, 2016 at 23:23 | comment | added | noobsmcgoobs | You state that the formal tense of the sentence feels impersonal or distant. In other languages with a formal or polite tense the person being addressed as such would take it as respect of as an honorific. In general, do German speakers feel as if you are being impolite if you use the formal tense as in it's not a warm, friendly way of addressing someone? As a contrast, in some Asian languages if you address older people, for example, in the informal tense, it's taken as an insult. Would there be some case where a German person would feel insulted by not being addressed formally? | |
| Apr 17, 2016 at 20:35 | history | edited | Crissov | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
added software examples
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| Apr 17, 2016 at 11:15 | history | answered | Crissov | CC BY-SA 3.0 |