diff --git a/content/language/word-list/bulletproof.md b/content/language/word-list/bulletproof.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1016970 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/language/word-list/bulletproof.md @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ +# Term: Bulletproof + +## Definition +*Bulletproof* is typically used in the context of cybersecurity to describe systems or applications that are relatively free from vulnerabilities. + +*Bulletproof* is also used sometimes in marketing communication when comparing products or services to those offered by competitors. The implication is that the product or service can withstand the claims of the competition. + +## Recommendation +Recommended to replace when possible. + +## Recommended Replacements +Depending on context, the Inclusive Naming Initiative recommends the following alternative terms. + +In the cybersecurity context: +- Secure +- Safe +- Protected + +In the technical/software marketing contexts: +- Robust + +## Unsuitable Replacements +Not applicable + +## Rationale +The word *bulletproof* is associated with gun violence, especially in the United States. Some individuals find the term especially threatening or offensive. + +In the context of cybersecurity, bulletproof suggests that something is completely invulnerable, which is unrealistic. No system or application is invulnerable. The term also demands that the reader understand a metaphor, which is unnecessary when there exist several clear, straightforward alternatives. diff --git a/content/word-lists/no-change.md b/content/word-lists/no-change.md index f808d9e..d2d899c 100644 --- a/content/word-lists/no-change.md +++ b/content/word-lists/no-change.md @@ -161,4 +161,56 @@ No change recommended. This use of "red" does not refer to Indigenous people and does not reinforce a negative stereotype. +## Throttle +### Term +throttle + +### Definition +Merriam-Webster: To limit or reduce (the bandwidth available to users of an electronic communication system, such as the Internet) + +### Recommendation +No change recommended. If the word *throttle* makes someone uncomfortable, choose a plain-language alternative from the Recommended Replacements list. + +### Recommended Replacements +- reduce +- suppress + +### Unsuitable Replacements +None + +### Rationale + Associating the word *throttle* with an act of violence doesn’t directly translate with the definition of *throttle* used in the computational or mechanical sense. As long as readers know the context in which the word *throttle* is used in technology, especially in regard to bandwidth or data usage, there is little chance of the term being misinterpreted as an act of physical violence. + +### Supporting Content +- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throttle + +## Trigger + +### Term +trigger + +### Definition +- Merriam-Webster: something that acts like a mechanical trigger in initiating a process or reaction +- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): a set of logic statements to be applied to a data stream that produces an alert when an anomalous incident or behavior occurs +- NIST: an event that causes the system to initiate a response. Also known as a triggering event. + +### Recommendation +No change recommended. If the word *trigger* makes someone uncomfortable, choose a plain-language alternative from the Recommended Replacements list. + +### Recommended Replacements +- generate +- create +- prompt +- set off + +### Unsuitable Replacements +None + +### Rationale +Sociopolitical associations of the word *trigger*, especially in the phrase *trigger warning*, don't directly translate with the definition of *trigger* used in the computational or mechanical sense. As long as readers know the context in which the word *trigger* is used in technology, especially in regard to alerts and responses, there is little chance of a technical reference being misinterpreted with a weapon or trauma recovery. + +### Supporting Content +- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trigger +- https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/trigger +- https://ncdj.org/style-guide/#T