Re: [Usability] remove vs delete

[Shaun McCance <shaunm gnome org>]

On Wed, 2006-07-19 at 18:31 -0400, Mr. Shawn H. Corey wrote:
> Shaun McCance wrote:
> > But that simply is not the case with this dialog, which is exactly
> > why I recommend "remove".  Removing your account from Evolution does
> > not cancel, delete, or otherwise have any effect on your account on
> > your mail server.  You are simply removing Evolution's ability to
> > access that account.
> 
> What you're really saying is the account is deleted from Evolution but
> unchanged on the server. This is not the definition of remove. You're
> hoping to get away with a shortcut. It has been my experience that this
> is not a good idea. You should spend the effort to educate your users so
> they have a correct model of what's really going on. You should say that
> Evolution will delete their account but to completely get rid of it,
> contact their mail server. If not, they may delete their (Evolution)
> account and think they will not longer be billed for mail server
> account. This is not the case. And yes, you as an Evolution developer
> may be held legally responsible for your <strike>lies</strike>
> misinformation.
> 
> As I implied before: I do not think this is a good idea.

What, exactly, do you not think is a good idea?  Do you think
we should call it "delete", even though it does not delete or
cancel your account with your provider?  You seem concerned
that users might think it will cancel their account, and yet
you are arguing against "remove".  To me, "delete" is the
more dangerous word.

The first definition of "remove", from dictionary.com:

  To move from a place or position occupied: removed the cups
  from the table.

You are removing the account from Evolution.  Technically,
you are also deleting certain data Evolution uses to access
the account.  But you're not deleting anything users really
care about.

If we're really concerned about legal liability, then the
confirmation dialog could easily notify users that their
account will not be canceled by this action.  But with or
without that notification, "remove" is still the correct
word.

--
Shaun