My students know that I hate the word "user" as a descriptor for people who browse, read, watch, listen to, write and shop at websites. HateIt HateIt HateIt. In my classes, though, we often settle down, uncomfortably, with the word as an adjective (user-centered design, for example).
In the "what do we call stuff created by real people" category, Derek at Powazek writes:
Let’s all stop using the phrase "user-generated content." I’m serious. It’s a despicable, terrible term.
His suggestion: Authentic Media. Sounds good to me! (Still doesn’t help me with my design descriptor problem, though.) [tip]
