I have never really heard java  1.2+ referred to as Java 2 except when
purchasing Java books. If that programmer is a new programmer and
doesn't understand why 1.2+ is referred to as Java 2 he asks someone who
knows who should just reply "Java 2 is Java 1.2 or higher", and when the
new programmer asks "why is 1.2 and higher java 2?", the more advanced
programmer should say "marketing".