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It's subjective because you haven't defined or quantified elegance or understandability. I could say that zero based indexing is not in fact understandable base
by ModernMech 4y ago
It's subjective because you haven't defined or quantified elegance or understandability. I could say that zero based indexing is not in fact understandable based on the amount of confusion I encounter explaining the concept to new users. I could say it's inelegant based on the fact it makes algorithms I use harder to implement. Others argue it's more elegant because it makes algorithms they use easier to implement. Same rationale, subjective conclusions.
Dijkstra's argument as well hinges on an undefined notion of "ugliness", which can mean anything to anyone. That's why these conversations never end, because most people are talking past one another based on their own definitions of "elegance" or "ugliness".
- IshKebab 4y agoYou encounter confusion explaining it to new users because they've learned it wrong their whole lives. Nobody has any trouble in the UK with lifts where the ground floor is 0 - one of the few places where humans got it right.
- ModernMech 4y agoRight but the existence of confusion cuts against your argument it’s more understandable. What you really mean is your brain works differently than everyone else’s, and you find something straightforward which they find confusing, therefore they are just thinking wrongly and it turns out your brain is the one with the correct worldview. That’s certainly a perspective.