Command verb

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    Revision as of 17:08, 3 September 2004 by 142.177.114.38 (talk)

    In user interface design, a command verb is a verb or verb phrase that actually triggers some software functionality, e.g. edit page, search, log in, help, talk, block IP address etc.

    Sometimes such verbs are confused and may have subject-object problems. For instance, help usually means "help me the user", while talk usually means "talk to someone else". This can make them harder to learn, as the assumed object (usually assumed noun phrase or pronoun) of the command phrase must be simply guessed or known in advance.

    Since the use of some verbs by some users actually categorizes people or their work, the worst of these confusions is that between trolls and the (many) IP blocks generated to slow them down: sometimes sysop power structure cannot actually tell the difference between the initial action ("to troll"), the opinion or process that leads to the sysop reaction, the output of that action, e.g. an IP range block, and the implication of what it means to edit from that IP ("to be trolled", etc.). These are all obviously quite different things, but it makes power grabs easier to deliberately confuse them. One could explain the confusion asa form of simple stupidity. However it could also be explained as a form of objectification or as a consequence of, say, Wikimedia corruption - these explanations would make sysops out to be more vile but less stupid.

    command hierarchy

    More generalized verbs like ask, fix, revert, drive off and patroll are quite possible given a more complete understanding of the power structure and command hierarchy of people obeying each other's orders, e.g. the priestly hierarchy that surrounds the GodKing preaching Wikipedia corruption.

    Since such generalized verbs may actually dispose of capital assets, e.g. the way that abuse of trolls wastes individual capital of those so labelled, the stakes can be quite high and would involve politics as usual or at least social network and instructional capital investigations. Perhaps even financial capital interactions, e.g. of the funded trolls. Projects like a revert currency might

    This be at least a computer supported cooperative work and social software design problem not simply a "one user one screen" GUI - it would involve much more understanding of some factionally defined terms and how factions collaborate and/or compete to accomplish any given objective or wiki mission. It seems more must be known about [[large public wiki]s first.