What an interesting topic, and an interesting parallel to what we all do for a living. No, I hadn't given it a thought, to be honest. To address the question of why there hasn't been universal adaptation to UK spellings by all users on this excellent site, I offer the following *opinions*:
1. If we use this site as a prime example of what we lack doing in our own center(re)s, then we must determine within the example who the 'customer' is, yes? If, indeed, CCV is the 'company', then the users must be the 'customers' (although the service is still free today). As a 'customer', I suppose I could complain that I don't like the unusual spellings of some of the words here (which I'm not, of course). After all, should *I* be expected to alter *my* way of doing things, as the *customer*?
As the 'company', CCV would then have to determine whether they could support my expectations as the 'customer', and either placate me or tell me 'Right! Sorry!'. Surely, if I outsource an English-speaking campaign to, say, an Indian call center(re), I would expect that the call center(re) agents would speak to my customers in English, even if the center(re) was in Delhi.
2. Regarding 'cultural imperialism', I must say that the beauty of this site, and indeed the entire Internet as a form of communication and commerce, is that there is the opportunity for each of us to be exposed to an international array of like-minded, if not like-spelling, professionals. The sameness of each member of CCV is that we are all working within the same industry; the true celebration of this communication, however, is in our differences. Surely, as a larger issue, the differences are the true opportunities to learn and grow.
3. As a final solution, we could all throw off our individualisms and begin learning, and teaching the children, some sort of Orwellian 'newspeak' that would accommodate everyone.
Fun topic, Mark - I look forward to reading this thread as it grows.
Brent |