Re: META: Subject line profanity considered [really dumb]

From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Thu Jan 03 2002 - 16:35:04 MST


On Thu, 3 Jan 2002, Dossy wrote:

> In the latter case, if you perceive yourself to be "arguing" with
> someone, and someone throws a profanity, that means they've lost.
> Stop arguing immediately; the person using the profanities is so
> flustered that they can't reason any longer, so anything you say
> further is just wasting your breath, and you're not impressing
> anyone kicking any more than if you were kicking a small child in
> the ribs as he or she lay bleeding on the sidewalk, saying "see
> how big and tough I am!"

Hmmm.... Once upon a time I was a programmer. And programmers
clearly are aware that from time to time they have to struggle
with their computers. Does this mean when I say "f...ing computer"
or "f...ing compiler" or "f...ing idiots" that didn't write
the unit tests to make sure that the compiler conformed to the
bloody specification or "blasted f...ing idiots" that didn't
write the specification unambigiously, that I'm incapable of
reason and have lost the argument? I rarely get a response
so I must now assume they have been following this basic approach.

Damn, and I thought computers and software weren't particularly
"intelligent" (yet). I mean really, after all, its for damn sure
that most humans aren't. Aggregate list bandwidth wasting morter
shells being lobbed hither thither and yon being a clear demonstration
of that fact. Its like the hundred years war all over again. I wonder
when the various factions sides will finally get it that neither side can
win. The best that can be managed is to stop beating ones head against
the wall and perhaps, just maybe, minimize the collateral damage.

:-?
Robert



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