Bob -
You forgot to mention in the American frontier during the 1600s-1800s, the European settlers would often have conflicts with the native Americans who typically only had bows and arrows. Hence the reference to the pioneers having been pierced with arrows.
Regards,
Doug

Bob,
I am thinking that you missed an opportunity with Brit's question. It highlights one of the key tenants of communication -- that you understand your audience.

To grow as managers, IT or otherwise, excellent communication is an absolute requirement. What Brit's question highlights, is that we must understand to whom our communication is directed so that we know what assumptions are appropriate. If I am speaking to my department, they are generally familiar with technology terms and acronyms. If I am speaking to a line of business peer they will be familiar business terms and acronyms. To be an effective IT leader I must be able to speak both languages and know the appropriate times to use each.

Furthermore, if I am speaking to the CIO or the CFO, not only must I be cognizant of the terminology, but I also must speak to a different level of detail.

Brit's experience highlights the need to know our audience and to speak to them -- whether local, national, or international.

Appreciate your insights -- have been an avid reader since the late 90's when you were writing the IS Survival Guide for InfoWorld.

Keep up the good work!!

Sincerely,

Bret Furtwengler
Vice President - Financial Systems
Fifth Third Bank
513.534.3088
Bret.Furtwengler@53.com

Wikipedia is great for this kind of stuff.

May I suggest Brit do a bit of reading about Frederick Jackson Turner and his theory of the frontier shaping the American culture. While American culture has significantly changed since Turner's day, I think his theory does speak to, and perhaps explain some of the unique characteristics of Americans that puzzle non-Americans.

Bob #2

So now is Brit going to tell us what "ROW" means?

I dunno. I could see not knowing some of that but...

This old yankee knows what a banger is, why an American torch is not an English flashlight, and a lift will take me to the 8th floor. Don't they show any American tv there? I know they do.

p.s. LOVE the new Dr. Who.

I think "ROW" stands for "Rest Of World".

NJ (Singapore)

OK, this gentleman doesn't know the meaning of pioneer or frontier, and has never heard of Nebraska, EDS or GM. And they make fun of our educational system??

Emm, just whose educational system are you referring to? I don't remember being taught about any of the counties in England or what a 'stone' meant as a measure of weight. As Bob pointed out, this is an opportunity to realize that our audiences in this day and age are much wider than the pre-Internet era. The world didn't grow up playing Cowboys and Indians, we shouldn't assume our target audiences did either. Self-serving statements like Gary's express the disconnect between how we (Americans) perceive ourselves and how the rest of the world does.

Oh, my. As someone who greatly apreciates reading references to local (regional, national) color (colour), please do not be tempted to descend further into the pit (deep hole) of filtered (homogenized, boring) writing. Where is Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) when you need him?

I recall reading "The Black Arrow" (R. L. Stevenson) as a boy. I learned to use a dictionary, quite well, while reading the first 100 pages. After I had read it, I wouldin't have changed a word of it.