General talk about software patterns

[Joseph Bergin <jbergin AT pace.edu>]

I've been suggesting to my students for years that they write patterns in the 
YOU form, as if addressed to the person who must carry out the solution. I've 
also suggested that the solution be stated strongly in an imperative form. 
Here is a tiny excerpt, derived from the pedagogical pattern Round Robin. 
I'll leave out much of it, just to get the flavor:

Round Robin
Context: You are teaching a course in which students are expected to learn 
through their discussions...
Problem: You want all students to participate in a discussion.
Solution: Therefore, use a round robin technique to solicit suggestions.

I've always thought of this as a good form. However, I'm teaching the course 
again and, as usual, learning a few things from my students. I have students 
from all over the world. Some students from India and Pakistan questioned the 
use of the YOU form for patterns. They say that it seems impolite to them, 
since the solutions are imperative. There are language issues of course, with 
Urdu and Tamil having separate you forms for use with different people. I 
think these words have different import than the European versions (Usted, 
vs. tu). The European versions seem mostly to represent "degree of 
association - strangers vs. family), or the German impersonal forms (man), 
but it may be different (say, hierarchical) elsewhere. 

As a result of the discussion, I've been playing with an I form (first person 
singular rather than second person). For example:

Context: I'm teaching a course in which students are expected to learn 
through their discussions...
Problem: I want all students to participate in a discussion.
Solution: Therefore, I use a round robin technique to solicit suggestions.

The rest of the pattern would need to be changed to match, of course.

What do you think about all this? Have you heard this in your travels or 
pattern writing/usage? The I form doesn't sound as strong to me, but 
interesting. What advice would you give to pattern writers in this area?

Linda Rising suggested I post this here, and Jutta gave good advice that she 
may want to repeat here. 

Thanks for your thoughts.
Joe

PS. I'll be wanting three good shepherds pretty soon, also. Let me know, 
privately, if you are interested. 
---
Joseph Bergin, Professor Emeritus in Residence
Pace University, Computer Science, One Pace Plaza, NY NY 10038
EMAIL 
jbergin AT pace.edu
HOMEPAGE http://csis.pace.edu/~bergin/
---
        you shall above all things be glad and young.
        For if you’re young, whatever life you wear
        
        it will become you;and if you are glad
        whatever’s living will yourself become

                - - e. e. cummings