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I was going to downvote you for a snarky response (I felt the reply explaining that Rust also has iron/oxidation references was a better response)... ... but t

I was going to downvote you for a snarky response (I felt the reply explaining that Rust also has iron/oxidation references was a better response)... ... but that's a really good link that you provided. I've never read that before & it's a great resource for thinking about how to behave socially as a programmer. While I don't agree with all of it, I love their "don't pile-on" and "don't bring negativity from outside" approach. (Plus I'm guilty of the 'feigning surprise' rule.) +1 for the really excellent link.

Bromskloss 10y ago
Why are they talking specifically about _feigning_ surprise? Isn't the effect the same even if you're honestly surprised?
- kbenson 10y ago
  If you're honestly surprised (and can't/don't hide it), the effect on the other person may be similar, but that's the nature of communication. Feigning surprise is manufacturing a situation with negative aspects.
- SyneRyder 10y ago
  I think the effect is the same. But that's also why I liked the link - I'm sometimes honestly surprised, or seeking clarification (eg "So you really haven't heard of the Playstation 4.5 & Playstation VR? But I thought you were a PS4 gamer?"). But by expressing it as feigning surprise, I understand that the other person feels I'm belittling or mocking them, even if that wasn't my intent. For me at least, it was a better explanation than XKCD 1053: https://xkcd.com/1053/ https://xkcd.com/1053/
coldpie 10y ago
> I was going to downvote you for a snarky response (I felt the reply explaining that Rust also has iron/oxidation references was a better response)... 100% of English speakers who hear the word "rust" will first think of metal oxidation. "Correcting" people who make that "mistake" adds nothing of value to the conversation and just expresses "I know more than you" because you know some obscure minutia that was mentioned in an IRC channel once. Nerds love doing this "I'm smarter than you" kind of shit, so much so that it is developing its own noun, "well actually". It's obnoxious and distracting and contributes nothing, so I called it out.

Bromskloss 10y ago

Why are they talking specifically about _feigning_ surprise? Isn't the effect the same even if you're honestly surprised?

kbenson 10y ago
If you're honestly surprised (and can't/don't hide it), the effect on the other person may be similar, but that's the nature of communication. Feigning surprise is manufacturing a situation with negative aspects.
SyneRyder 10y ago
I think the effect is the same. But that's also why I liked the link - I'm sometimes honestly surprised, or seeking clarification (eg "So you really haven't heard of the Playstation 4.5 & Playstation VR? But I thought you were a PS4 gamer?"). But by expressing it as feigning surprise, I understand that the other person feels I'm belittling or mocking them, even if that wasn't my intent. For me at least, it was a better explanation than XKCD 1053: https://xkcd.com/1053/ https://xkcd.com/1053/

coldpie 10y ago

> I was going to downvote you for a snarky response (I felt the reply explaining that Rust also has iron/oxidation references was a better response)... 100% of English speakers who hear the word "rust" will first think of metal oxidation. "Correcting" people who make that "mistake" adds nothing of value to the conversation and just expresses "I know more than you" because you know some obscure minutia that was mentioned in an IRC channel once. Nerds love doing this "I'm smarter than you" kind of shit, so much so that it is developing its own noun, "well actually". It's obnoxious and distracting and contributes nothing, so I called it out.