Timeline for answer to Why did Microsoft choose the word "Recycle Bin"? by Kaz
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
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| Apr 22, 2014 at 19:59 | history | edited | Kaz | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Apr 22, 2014 at 16:58 | history | edited | Kaz | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Apr 22, 2014 at 16:50 | history | edited | Kaz | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Apr 22, 2014 at 5:54 | comment | added | O. R. Mapper | Just my word, permanent deletion in Windows is "recycling" in terms of storage space. Hence, it is not a special trait of the "recycle bin". The distinguishing trait of the "recycle bin" is that files can be restored, so it makes more sense to think that the name refers to that special trait. No, it is not a 1:1 match with the real world; as all such metaphors, the analogy is limited - just think of "folders" (directories), which, in contrast to the real world, can contain nested folders and so on. | |
| Apr 21, 2014 at 20:44 | history | edited | Kaz | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Apr 21, 2014 at 19:02 | comment | added | Kaz | @O.R.Mapper Recycling never refers to restoring deleted files (pulling them out of the recycle bin). Similarly, if you change you mind about some plastic bottle and pull it back out of your recycle bin, that is not recycling; it is called reuse. See the popular motto, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!". Permanent deletion in Windows is recycling. Just like if you take a plastic bottle to a recycling facility, you will never see it again; but if you put it into your own recycle box, you have an opportunity to change your mind. | |
| Apr 21, 2014 at 12:59 | comment | added | O. R. Mapper | ... method that is called recycle-something. Hence, the latter seems to be more convincing as an explanation for the name. | |
| Apr 21, 2014 at 12:56 | comment | added | O. R. Mapper | Unwanted stuff that you throw away without any recycling is not recycled at all in the real world, whereas unwanted stuff that you permanently delete without going through recycle-anything in Windows is immediately recycled (in terms of free disk storage space). My point is that there are two ways to delete files - via recycle bin, and directly. With your interpretation of what recycling refers to - storage space - both of those methods involve recycling. When interpreting recycling as referring to restoring temporarily-deleted files, recycling only occurs with the one deletion ... | |
| Apr 21, 2014 at 12:31 | comment | added | Kaz | @O.R.Mapper Similarly, unwanted stuff that you take directly to a recycling facility is recycled much more immediately than something you put in a recycling box for later collection. Sorry, I don't see your point. | |
| Apr 21, 2014 at 9:38 | comment | added | O. R. Mapper | I don't think that is a good explanation: The files which are deleted immediately (specifically without using the recycle bin) are "recycled" (based on your interpretation) much more immediately than those placed in the recycle bin. | |
| Apr 20, 2014 at 0:04 | history | answered | Kaz | CC BY-SA 3.0 |