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> The prejudicial reaction to buzz words is one of the things that I've found really weird in the programming fields. At one level, like Google aggregating sig

> The prejudicial reaction to buzz words is one of the things that I've found really weird in the programming fields. At one level, like Google aggregating signals, responding to an abundance of buzz words is one of several ways to classify a given posting as promising or not. A few buzz words could be fine, but a company actually saying they "are building every website in AJAX, MVC, REST, and HTML 5" all in the same sentence is definitely problematic. Separately, I think there are people who use buzz words to earn points among their non-technical colleagues, which seems to be cultural appropriation from programmers. You can also see this with words that have been redefined in pop culture, like 'hacker'. This naturally breeds resent and wariness of buzz words in general.

stcredzero 15y ago
To me, undiscerning resentment of buzz words is a sign of one level "Cargo Cult" mentality looking down upon another level of "Cargo Cult" mentality.
- sapphirecat 15y ago
  I thought when you said you find it really weird, that you didn't really understand it, or the reasons behind it. Now, it seems you do, and you simply think it's irrational? Irrationality in humans and their dealings is not something I find particularly weird anymore, in myself or in others.
  - stcredzero 15y ago
    So nothing is "weirdly irrational?" (As opposed to understandably irrational.)
nl 15y ago
This is wrong. What you call "Buzzwords" many would call technical jargon. Jargon is a shorthand way of communicating quickly with others who understand it. You see "Buzzwords" in are building every website in AJAX, MVC, REST, and HTML 5, where as I think "I wonder if the MVC is a front end Javascript MVC framework operating against the REST backend, or if the model & controller parts are shared by the REST and AJAX front ends, but have different views?" I know you meant it as an example, but to me it was a perfectly legitimate description of a development stack.
- rjd 15y ago
  Theres a definite difference between a framework description and a buzzword over loaded blurb, placement in the ad for example can change the tone of the whole message. So starting with "we are an HTML 5 AJAX shop..." I would roll my eyes, where as compared to "Our stack makes heavy use of REST methodologies..." I would mull the description. I guess its a level of understanding that goes into the use of the terms.
- sapphirecat 15y ago
  My post was not about the specific buzz words, which is why I borrowed the example from the grandparent. If I were describing a technology stack, it would include the actual development language and further specific, relevant details. That might include the exact example as given, but the example standing on its own still ranks low on the desirability scale. Also, my description would exclude "building every website in".

stcredzero 15y ago

To me, undiscerning resentment of buzz words is a sign of one level "Cargo Cult" mentality looking down upon another level of "Cargo Cult" mentality.

sapphirecat 15y ago
I thought when you said you find it really weird, that you didn't really understand it, or the reasons behind it. Now, it seems you do, and you simply think it's irrational? Irrationality in humans and their dealings is not something I find particularly weird anymore, in myself or in others.
- stcredzero 15y ago
  So nothing is "weirdly irrational?" (As opposed to understandably irrational.)

nl 15y ago

This is wrong. What you call "Buzzwords" many would call technical jargon. Jargon is a shorthand way of communicating quickly with others who understand it. You see "Buzzwords" in are building every website in AJAX, MVC, REST, and HTML 5, where as I think "I wonder if the MVC is a front end Javascript MVC framework operating against the REST backend, or if the model & controller parts are shared by the REST and AJAX front ends, but have different views?" I know you meant it as an example, but to me it was a perfectly legitimate description of a development stack.

rjd 15y ago
Theres a definite difference between a framework description and a buzzword over loaded blurb, placement in the ad for example can change the tone of the whole message. So starting with "we are an HTML 5 AJAX shop..." I would roll my eyes, where as compared to "Our stack makes heavy use of REST methodologies..." I would mull the description. I guess its a level of understanding that goes into the use of the terms.
sapphirecat 15y ago
My post was not about the specific buzz words, which is why I borrowed the example from the grandparent. If I were describing a technology stack, it would include the actual development language and further specific, relevant details. That might include the exact example as given, but the example standing on its own still ranks low on the desirability scale. Also, my description would exclude "building every website in".