3 ms·
One I recall from the early Mac era was the Kermit file transfer tool. [1] You'd run it on two computers. On one you'd tell it to SEND some file. Then on the ot
by wpietri 4y ago
One I recall from the early Mac era was the Kermit file transfer tool. [1] You'd run it on two computers. On one you'd tell it to SEND some file. Then on the other you'd type RECEIVE. A colleague of mine got absolutely fucking livid when he instead typed RECIEVE and it replied "I before E except after C".
He did have a point; the programmer obviously knew what was intended, but instead of just leaving it to a generic syntax error he went out of the way to have the computer be snotty. But the rage still seemed wildly disproportionate to me.
Years later, John Scalzi had a good way of putting it: "The failure mode of clever is asshole." [2]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermit_(protocol) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermit_(protocol) (I'm pretty sure it was this. It has been a while!)
[2] https://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/06/16/the-failure-state-of-clever/ https://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/06/16/the-failure-state-of-...
- Aeolun 4y agoI think this is hilarious. A bit like sl instead of ls.
- wpietri 4y agoOh, I did too. But then, I wasn't the one trying to get something done with the tool.
- TedDoesntTalk 4y agoIt’s so easy to be offended or outraged. Want a challenge? Practice not being offended or outraged… at exactly those things that presently offend you.
- KerrAvon 4y agoWant an even bigger challenge? Help your unenlightened users not be offended. By not providing stupid, unhelpful UI.
- wpietri 4y agoSure, we could all be more resilient. But sometimes offense is useful and valid! If I am urgently trying to get something done and somebody else picks that time to clown around and interfere with me, I don't think it's unreasonable to get mad. I like joking around a lot, but reading the room is an important skill. To me it's important that the person I'm joking with actually enjoy it. A failed joke, one that annoys them is a mistake. People who persists in making jokes that the targets aren't laughing at are not really making jokes anymore; they're just being dicks. Which can also be a valid activity, but nobody should confuse it with joking around.