It's both more descriptive and avoids equating "dark" to "bad". I've also heard "hostile patterns" as an umbrella term that covers deceptive patterns as well as careless UX problems like a design that isn't accessible.
Preferred by whom though? The authors of the article preferred "dark patterns" — probably as something more commonly used in their circles.
My intent wasn't to appeal to authority though. I think Deceptive Patterns is just plain better. A term being popular doesn't prove it is precise or inoffensive.
“Deceptive” does seem more descriptive, if not exactly poetic.
That said, I don't make the association, either. But I'm willing to make the change, if not for basic politeness, then to use words that are more descriptive.
But like I said: the alternative is both more descriptive and avoids the issue. This feels like an easy one.
The patterns aren’t just deceptive — they’re underhanded, scheming, unscrupulous, perfidious … in other words, dark.
None of which has a whit to do with race.
Surely you would agree that someone encountering the term out of context would have a much harder time guessing what "dark patterns" means versus "deceptive patterns"?
What issue? Dark is used in the sense that the tactics are hidden. As in, you can't see stuff in the dark.
The real issue here is people automatically conflating every usage of the words dark or black with race. Not everybody sees the world through the lens of race. In fact, you'll find the light vs the dark theme was used in cultures all over the world, not stemming from racism but from the fact that you conceal evil deeds in the night when it's dark outside[0].
[0]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-and-white_dualism