The API idea sounds great. Not stupid. Way to go AD ! Gus > On Feb 22, 2010, at 3:56 PM, M. Adam Davis wrote: > > On Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 5:17 PM, Olin Lathrop > wrote: >> M. Adam Davis wrote: >>> A similar, possibly cliche, quote is, "Make sure everyone you talk >>> to >>> is better off for having talked to you." >> >> But back here in the real world, this is bad advice as a blanket >> statement. >> Once you've decided part of the solution is to get the moron fired, >> you >> clearly want him not to be better off after you talk. > > Honestly, if he's that bad at his job I can only imagine he'll be > significantly better off in a different line of work, so as far as I'm > concerned they would be better off having been told the truth about > their skills. But you can _generally_ tell them the truth without > adopting an offensive line of discussion. > > Regardless, I don't know the whole thing holds up when applied to the > piclist. Can you tell with the simple messages people post here as > newbies that they are truly stupid and should get lost (ie, fired from > the list)? It's easy enough in a design review, but email messages > don't communicate enough to tell whether the design is stupid because > the person is incapable of learning the right way, or the person > simply lacks the skills and experience to do it the right way but are > otherwise interested and capable of learning. > > I must be thinking about this too much. I'm now travelling down the > path of, "If people are devices, then they communicate using APIs. > What are the characteristics of the API, and how to best communicate > to get the device to perform the intended action, or incorporate the > information into their memory." > > If only life were so simple. Unfortunately no one sticks strictly to > the english dictionary, which would be a fine standard if people > didn't color the words and phrases with their own perspective, > connotations, experience, interpretation, etc. > > On the other hand.... hmmm... > > How Olin, would you mind publishing your API? If we get everyone to > do this, then we can generate a translator and end all > incompatibilites in one fell swoop! > > ;-D > > -Adam -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist