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>New generations of people, even software developers, aren't accustomed to old featureless technologies; and they consider them crappy Right, so an underlying

by dTal 5y ago

>New generations of people, even software developers, aren't accustomed to old featureless technologies; and they consider them crappy Right, so an underlying problem here is the optimization of our tools for "fun" and stimulation and little dopamine hits, instead of actual work. Remember Clippy? That's all tools now. Bright colors and blinkenlights, flashing popups, offers to "help". How can a boring utility tool like a text editor or an IRC client compete? The trend is undeniable, but I don't think it's one that should be embraced. Let FOSS be the "serious" software.

masklinn 5y ago
> Right, so an underlying problem here is the optimization of our tools for "fun" and stimulation and little dopamine hits, instead of actual work. It’s really not a question of fun, but of flexibility and convenience. Of being able to send message and have them not look like garbage, of being able to send a file and not need to open ports on your router, of sending a graph and it actually showing up. That’s why tools like notebooks are valued. Or even godbolt: your way is that I tell you to install gigabytes worth of compilers (half of which you might not even be able to get let alone know how to use) and provide a program listing you can’t even paste properly.
- hedgewitch 5y ago
  I think there's an even more understated value here: being able to send a file and the server never running out of space and you, the user, never having to worry about it and wonder "should I have just uploaded this somewhere else and linked it?"
selfhoster11 5y ago
Reaction icons on Slack/Discord posts are actually useful. Adding a "+1", "agreed" or "done" react on a message is far less intrusive than a reply message to that effect, especially if you don't have threading (like IRC). You could even use them as an additional input/output signalling channel for automation or bots, if you were so inclined. That aside, communication tools facilitate human to human communication first and foremost. In natural person to person communication, there are many additional information channels than just the content of your speech. There is your tone of voice, body language (however overrated that might seem), gesturing, scribbling a quick diagram on a napkin, laughter, winking, and whatever else. A good communication medium will strive to let you communicate as many of these things as possible, by analogy if needed. A reaction GIF can communicate a great deal about the non-tangibles of the other person's state of mind, and help you both understand their intent better, and know them better as a person. If you want to keep your communication serious, establish channel rules that forbid certain types of expression to change the tone of discussion, or use a client that doesn't implement such features/lets you disable them. Don't limit it at the technology or protocol level.

by dTal 5y ago

masklinn 5y ago

> Right, so an underlying problem here is the optimization of our tools for "fun" and stimulation and little dopamine hits, instead of actual work. It’s really not a question of fun, but of flexibility and convenience. Of being able to send message and have them not look like garbage, of being able to send a file and not need to open ports on your router, of sending a graph and it actually showing up. That’s why tools like notebooks are valued. Or even godbolt: your way is that I tell you to install gigabytes worth of compilers (half of which you might not even be able to get let alone know how to use) and provide a program listing you can’t even paste properly.

hedgewitch 5y ago
I think there's an even more understated value here: being able to send a file and the server never running out of space and you, the user, never having to worry about it and wonder "should I have just uploaded this somewhere else and linked it?"

selfhoster11 5y ago

Reaction icons on Slack/Discord posts are actually useful. Adding a "+1", "agreed" or "done" react on a message is far less intrusive than a reply message to that effect, especially if you don't have threading (like IRC). You could even use them as an additional input/output signalling channel for automation or bots, if you were so inclined. That aside, communication tools facilitate human to human communication first and foremost. In natural person to person communication, there are many additional information channels than just the content of your speech. There is your tone of voice, body language (however overrated that might seem), gesturing, scribbling a quick diagram on a napkin, laughter, winking, and whatever else. A good communication medium will strive to let you communicate as many of these things as possible, by analogy if needed. A reaction GIF can communicate a great deal about the non-tangibles of the other person's state of mind, and help you both understand their intent better, and know them better as a person. If you want to keep your communication serious, establish channel rules that forbid certain types of expression to change the tone of discussion, or use a client that doesn't implement such features/lets you disable them. Don't limit it at the technology or protocol level.