Computers: August 2004 Archives
I went to get a new water filter for my several-months-old refrigerator yesterday, at Sears. I put the model number on a piece of paper in my wallet and went forth.
I need a filter, and have the model number here, I said. "Is it a Kenmore?," he asked. Yes, it is, I replied. "Is it a side-by-side?" Yup. "Is the filter in the grille on the bottom?," he asked, pointing at an example. Yes. "I don't need to look up the number, that's easy, this is the one you need." I paid and left.
It was the wrong filter.
I need a filter, and have the model number here, I said. "Is it a Kenmore?," he asked. Yes, it is, I replied. "Is it a side-by-side?" Yup. "Is the filter in the grille on the bottom?," he asked, pointing at an example. Yes. "I don't need to look up the number, that's easy, this is the one you need." I paid and left.
It was the wrong filter.
I just committed this:
# $Id: MySQL.pm,v 1.666 2004/08/13 22:49:40 pudge Exp $And note that August 13th is a Friday. I run and hide now!
I realize that different people have different standards. But I go by my standards, as you go by yours.
Occasionally I am told I am being rude, because my words are "hostile" or because I am calling names. The overwhelming majority of the times this happens, it is because the other person did something that I consider far more rude, but they can't even recognize it.
I won't bother to guess at why they don't recognize it, because it's there all the same. In an argument, when I clearly state something, and you pretend I didn't, or that I said something else, that is rude. When you do it multiple consecutive times, that is galactically rude. And if I become a bit curt or "hostile" toward you because of it, don't expect me to apologize.
It's also exceptionally rude to say to me that I think something I don't think, or that I will or would think it. You have absolutely no clue what goes on inside my head. And not only is it rude to say you do when you can't, it's also a very cheap and stupid way to argue, which makes it even more rude.
This isn't about agreeing with me, it's about not using cheap and stupid tactics; it's about talking to what I am saying instead of what you imagine I might mean; it's about being reasonable. I couldn't care less if people disagree with me, but only that they are not rude to me when they do.
These things are far more rude than name-calling or using a hostile tone. Names and tones are peripheral, but these things completely defeat any chance at actual communication. Don't agree? Then don't talk to me. As you are not positively contributing to the discussion, I won't mind.
Occasionally I am told I am being rude, because my words are "hostile" or because I am calling names. The overwhelming majority of the times this happens, it is because the other person did something that I consider far more rude, but they can't even recognize it.
I won't bother to guess at why they don't recognize it, because it's there all the same. In an argument, when I clearly state something, and you pretend I didn't, or that I said something else, that is rude. When you do it multiple consecutive times, that is galactically rude. And if I become a bit curt or "hostile" toward you because of it, don't expect me to apologize.
It's also exceptionally rude to say to me that I think something I don't think, or that I will or would think it. You have absolutely no clue what goes on inside my head. And not only is it rude to say you do when you can't, it's also a very cheap and stupid way to argue, which makes it even more rude.
This isn't about agreeing with me, it's about not using cheap and stupid tactics; it's about talking to what I am saying instead of what you imagine I might mean; it's about being reasonable. I couldn't care less if people disagree with me, but only that they are not rude to me when they do.
These things are far more rude than name-calling or using a hostile tone. Names and tones are peripheral, but these things completely defeat any chance at actual communication. Don't agree? Then don't talk to me. As you are not positively contributing to the discussion, I won't mind.
"It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become a prey to the active. The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt."
