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It's odd. People understand instinctively that the best way for computer programs to communicate with each other is for each of the them to be strict in what th
by skorgu 17y ago
It's odd. People understand instinctively that the best way for computer programs to communicate with each other is for each of the them to be strict in what they emit, and liberal in what they accept. The odd thing is that people themselves are not willing to be strict in how they speak, and liberal in how they listen. You'd think that would also be obvious. Instead, we're taught to express ourselves.
--Larry Wall
To wit, try not to be offensive and at the same time try not to be offended.
- robertk 17y agoI'm on my iPhone and I accidentally downvoted you. I apologize. I took the effort to make this reply because I think your comment is the most insightful thing I've heard all day and I feel bad your karma is two points lower than it should be.
- skorgu 17y agoI'll consider it cosmic interest on my loan of Larry Wall's karma.
- run4yourlives 17y agoThat comment makes this whole thread worth while. What a great piece of insight.
- 10ren 17y agoI think you're right, but I'm conflicted about this (both online and in real life.) I sense there's something for me to learn here. My question: Is it right to accept abuse? Larry seems to be saying it is. Trying not to be offensive is a skill. I think just trying to be aware of it is a good way to practice it. Trying to not be offended is harder, but when I've used the "how to disagree" approach, of examining the facts presented (minus the imaginings, opinion, connotations, tone, attitude etc), and replying to them only (also in a factual way), it has been very effective, and also seemed to somehow close it off, and I didn't feel offended anymore. It's a pity this article is dead, because I think the issue you raise is a very interesting one. Not specific to Hackernews, but more as a "how are we to live" philosophical question, and a very intellectually stimulating one.