4 ms·

From the middle of that thread[0] we discover that the original author of the original memo commented on it in 2008[1]. That follow-up is definitely worth read

From the middle of that thread[0] we discover that the original author of the original memo commented on it in 2008[1]. That follow-up is definitely worth reading to better understand the context of the memo. Not reading the follow-up and still criticising/laughing at the original memo is thoroughly unjust. I've submitted[2] the follow-up as a separate item if people want to comment on it. [0] https://twitter.com/_space_train/status/1236373295429226496 https://twitter.com/_space_train/status/1236373295429226496 [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/1xz13/in_1974_xerox_parc_engineers_invented_ethernet/c043yl0/ https://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/1xz13/in_1974_x... [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22517640 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22517640

tyingq 7y ago
That's certainly helpful. However, both the original memo, and the reddit update have the same sort of condescending/arrogant tone. That probably was as much a factor in why people jumped to conclusions as anything else.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- fogetti 7y ago
  The reddit reply is neither condescending or arrogant. Why do you think so?
  - tyingq 7y ago
    The reply is certainly less abrasive than the original memo. I still feel the undertones, but that's my opinion and subjective. I feel it's still self aggrandizing and dismissive of Metcalf's work.
    - saber6 7y ago
      To put it into another context: I know very much about Mr. Metcalf's work. This other guy, I have never heard of him.
- throw7337 7y ago
  Original memo gives good pointers, references, and ways to improve. It is also very short. I would love this critisizm on my work.
  - dorkwood 7y ago
    You misspelled "criticism".
  - tyingq 7y ago
    Would you love it arriving as a letter to your boss's boss, with no prior discussion? Also, it includes quite a lot of unneeded pejorative rhetoric that adds no value.
jacinabox 7y ago
This sort of thing is endemic to computing culture. Somebody says that a design is too inefficient or poorly thought out, then a practitioner comes along and crows, of course it works, all we had to do was overdesign it by a factor of ten.
JdeBP 7y ago
Is the original Ethernet I paper first draft published, for the world to see whether it really was "unprofessional" and "hippy"?

tyingq 7y ago

That's certainly helpful. However, both the original memo, and the reddit update have the same sort of condescending/arrogant tone. That probably was as much a factor in why people jumped to conclusions as anything else.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
fogetti 7y ago
The reddit reply is neither condescending or arrogant. Why do you think so?
- tyingq 7y ago
  The reply is certainly less abrasive than the original memo. I still feel the undertones, but that's my opinion and subjective. I feel it's still self aggrandizing and dismissive of Metcalf's work.
  - saber6 7y ago
    To put it into another context: I know very much about Mr. Metcalf's work. This other guy, I have never heard of him.
throw7337 7y ago
Original memo gives good pointers, references, and ways to improve. It is also very short. I would love this critisizm on my work.
- dorkwood 7y ago
  You misspelled "criticism".
- tyingq 7y ago
  Would you love it arriving as a letter to your boss's boss, with no prior discussion? Also, it includes quite a lot of unneeded pejorative rhetoric that adds no value.

jacinabox 7y ago

This sort of thing is endemic to computing culture. Somebody says that a design is too inefficient or poorly thought out, then a practitioner comes along and crows, of course it works, all we had to do was overdesign it by a factor of ten.

JdeBP 7y ago

Is the original Ethernet I paper first draft published, for the world to see whether it really was "unprofessional" and "hippy"?