Why do sites use terms like "My Account" instead of "Your Account"? Consider this. They tend to have a "My Account" button and a "Contact Us" button. Logically, this would imply that "Contact Us" meant contact yourself and the site.
Besides, doesn't "My" make it all seem childish?
Responses:
The Web Palette
I suppose "my" is caterning to the lowest mental denominator, much like I cater to the lowest colorspace denominator.
The Web Palette
What I mean by that is that web drones who read "my settings" on a web page don't have to make any mental translations - they see the words, and think "huh, those are MY settings".
The Web Palette
If the web page had "your settings", they'd have to do some processing to figure out who the "your" refers to, and then do a quick mental substitution. This confuses people.
Lord Amazorn
Our market research group has verified this.
Clippy
I don't think any translation would be needed. They both pass through since what other settings are there?
Xander Harris
Why does Clippy care, anyway? And why does he get to ask questions? Shouldn't he be over here on this side of the line answering?
Lord Amazorn
Let me put it this way. Your takes up 2 extra bytes we could be devoting to co-branding.
Clippy
I'm so lonely.
Tron
I installed a back door to the site a week ago, and told Clippy how to use it.
Ship's Counselor Deanna Troi
Excuse me, but there is a real reason for using "my" over "your".
Ship's Counselor Deanna Troi
Let's say you have a diary. Do you write "Your Diary" on it, or "My Diary"?
Ship's Counselor Deanna Troi
Or perhaps you draw up a map of your neighborhood. Do you label your house as "Your house" or "My house"?
Ship's Counselor Deanna Troi
In other words, the "My" label conveys a whole sense of ownership. A page that has a "Your account" button conveys the feeling that someone else owns the page and labeled a part of it as yours. A page that has "My account" gives you the feeling that it's YOUR page, and is labeled as you would label things.
Old, Tired Spock
And all this time I've been calling it "First Officer's Log" or "Captain's Log". Fascinating.
