[documentation] What's wrong with "you"?

[O Govinda]

I've lately seen a few comments that speak favorably about ridding Drupal
documentation of the word "you."

I don't understand the reason for doing so. Perhaps there's some
conversation I've missed. 

>From my point of view, "you" is one of the most exceedingly useful words for
documentation in the entire English language. 

   * It's simple, plain, and direct. 

   * It's short--only one three-letter syllable. 

   * It's gender neutral. 

   * It's superbly personal and friendly.

   * Unlike "they," it never invites doubts about antecedents. ("When users
modify these settings, they. . . " The users or the settings?)

   * It leads you naturally to write about what the *user* has to do rather
than what a module does--and that's very good indeed for the user. 

   * It leads you naturally to write in the active voice, rather than the
passive, thereby avoiding one of the greatest killers of clarity known to
the English tongue.

Even legal contracts these days tend to replace the old clunky impersonal
terms with the equally legal, and far more clear and friendly, "you." For
example, from an IBM license:

   ------------------------

As used in this End User License Agreement, "you" and "your" refers to the
individual or entity that wishes to use the Software.

1. License.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, you are hereby granted.
. .  

   -------------------------

I'd say that rather than trying to curb "you" for Drupal documentation, we
should *promote* it.

In short: I see nothing wrong with "you." I'm all for it. Or is there
something wrong with *me*?

Cordially, 
O Govinda
www.jswami.info
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