Zuowan touched on this on the first page but forgot "Clients."
I am so tired of probation officers (for those recently out of jail), caretakers of the terminally ill or the handicapped, government social services workers and the lot refering to the people they deal with as customers or clients. Why not just call them "johns" like prostitutes do their "customers"?

They're not buying anything, you dolts. They're the people you take care of or serve, sure. For the MENTALLY RETARDED, they're people who need help to live like human beings.
(ChiTown Guy Dating when 35+: sane, single, attractive - pick 2, Sun 11 Apr 2010, 15:21, 4 replies)

They're buying a service, surely?
We pay for a Mencap worker to look after my disabled brother. He is a client.
( Bob Todd whee, Sun 11 Apr 2010, 18:15, closed)

Yup
the idea is not to stigmatise people who use the service.

I'm often expected to call 'people who use the service' by the title 'service users'. This is fine by me, although some workers think it's a rather clumsy term.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Sun 11 Apr 2010, 18:22, closed)

While we're on the subject of governmental bollocks, you're not a 'taxpayer', you're a customer. Bullshit. The word 'customer' implies that you have a choice as to where you can take your money, but it's not like there's more than one Inland Revenue.
(Draco Rattus ate all the pies on, Sun 11 Apr 2010, 21:22, closed)

It's not about money
A person's "client" is someone to whom that person owes certain duties of service to, not necessarily someone that pays them for that particular service. That's why lawyers can have pro-bono clients, etc.
(thecurriedavenger, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 7:41, closed)