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i get that, though i would rather compare it with chopsticks than vinyl records. you use emacs to do stuff, you dont just listen to/watch it do its thing. cho

by mlatu 4y ago

i get that, though i would rather compare it with chopsticks than vinyl records. you use emacs to do stuff, you dont just listen to/watch it do its thing. chopsticks might not seem like a good metaphor at first glance, as they are much more simple, but they are highly compatible with a lot of tasks and can be utilized in many ways that a fork, spoon, spork or colander just wouldnt handle as well. to my mind, the simple thing hidden in emacs' complexity is that it is a closeted lisp machine

oliverbennett 4y ago
Both metaphors seem apt. One is leaning towards how a product makes a person feel when using it, one is about what the product offers. I hear arguments around what products can offer me all the time, they make sense, but I generally go with how a product makes me feel. Probably more than I even realise. I don’t use Emacs, I do whisk eggs and fish doughnuts out of oil with chopsticks, I couldn’t fully say why for either.
- mlatu 4y ago
  oh i get it and i will contradict my own saying "you dont need GPU for handling source code" when i talk about my personal projects, but there is a time and a place for all the tools there are: some have janky handles, some have single-purpose nibs, others are as customizable as your regular homeowners house. i am still a bit iffy about emacslisp, but less so than before i grokked CL (thanks for that goes to "practical common lisp" by peter seibel) but: whatever floats your boat will keep your boat afloat :D
pmontra 4y ago
As a westerner, chopsticks are much better than spoons or forks at getting that last grain of rice in the plate, or a small piece of salad.
- ninkendo 4y ago
  They’re also great for eating Cheetos without getting orange residue on your fingers. :)
- slowmovintarget 4y ago
  Or eating vegetables like sauteed kale, or string beans. I will admit that for that very last teaspoon full of rice, though... I grab a spoon.

by mlatu 4y ago

oliverbennett 4y ago

Both metaphors seem apt. One is leaning towards how a product makes a person feel when using it, one is about what the product offers. I hear arguments around what products can offer me all the time, they make sense, but I generally go with how a product makes me feel. Probably more than I even realise. I don’t use Emacs, I do whisk eggs and fish doughnuts out of oil with chopsticks, I couldn’t fully say why for either.

mlatu 4y ago
oh i get it and i will contradict my own saying "you dont need GPU for handling source code" when i talk about my personal projects, but there is a time and a place for all the tools there are: some have janky handles, some have single-purpose nibs, others are as customizable as your regular homeowners house. i am still a bit iffy about emacslisp, but less so than before i grokked CL (thanks for that goes to "practical common lisp" by peter seibel) but: whatever floats your boat will keep your boat afloat :D

pmontra 4y ago

As a westerner, chopsticks are much better than spoons or forks at getting that last grain of rice in the plate, or a small piece of salad.

ninkendo 4y ago
They’re also great for eating Cheetos without getting orange residue on your fingers. :)
slowmovintarget 4y ago
Or eating vegetables like sauteed kale, or string beans. I will admit that for that very last teaspoon full of rice, though... I grab a spoon.