History/Orgin of "troubleshoot"? [closed]
Per http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=453630, the term originally came from "trouble-hunter"
"Hunting" is far more informative than "Shooting", and I think it answers my question.
It implies that the term really means to "seek and kill" trouble, which is different than just shooting, in my opinion.
As others have said, the term was originally used in the context of mending telephone (and probably telegraph) lines
Etymonline has it tracked to troubleshooter
also trouble-shooter, 1898, originally one who works on telegraph or telephone lines. From trouble (n.) + shoot (v.).
Oxford Dictionaries Pro defines troubleshoot as 'analyse and solve serious problems for a company or other organization'. It gives troubleshooter as a ‘derivative’. The OED , on the other hand, has no entry for troubleshoot but gives two meanings for troubleshooter:
A person who traces and corrects faults in machinery and equipment (originally specifically on a telegraph or telephone line). (My emphasis.)
One who specializes in removing or solving difficulties; especially a mediator in diplomatic or industrial affairs.
The earliest citation for (1) is dated 1905 and for (2) 1927. The etymology is given as trouble + shooter, and shooter is elsewhere defined simply as one who shoots.
In the 1800s during the explosion of mining towns, the mines used to hire people as "security guards" against thieves coming and taking over the mine and stealing the gold or silver. These people were called trouble shooters. They were to shoot intruders, thieves, and those causing trouble. References to such can be seen in movies such as Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter where he is hired as their trouble shooter as the previous ones were killed. Over time the term has evolved to mean those able to resolve problems.
Troubleshooter or troubleshooting has nothing do to with shooting anything. It is the art of problem-solving, and the term originated in the late 18th century or early 19th century when technicians were dispatched to find problems in telegraph and phone line infrastructure, and then find a way to repair or work around the issues. Historically then, the term troubleshooter meant to find and solve technical problems and issues.
Today, troubleshooting can mean any effort to analyze not only issues or problems with technical systems, but also is a methodology to find and address issues within any organizational or political situation, and then recommend how the situation or event can be repaired or resolved.
Good troubleshooters will analyze the situation, and then make an educated guess on the most likely cause of the problems being encountered (based upon logic or previous experience), and focus on those potential problem areas first. Once the problem is identified, they will attempt to isolate and fixed the issue as quicky and efficiently as possible.