3 ms·

why not?

V-2 13y ago
It's unconventional, and hence distracting. It's a mental bump, it gets you thinking "why so?" instead of focusing on the text. Pretty much the same problem as violating coding convention in source code.
- garg 13y ago
  Human language is and will always be much more forgiving than coding conventions in source code. It wasn't distracting for me and it is fairly conventional now to use he and she interchangeably. Conventions change in language.
- aaren 13y ago
  ' she ' occurs a total of four times in the entire thing. If you're getting noticeably slowed down by these four mental bumps then perhaps it is more you and not the text.
- jkarni 13y ago
  I don't get your point. Obviously if it's a really bad convention (naming all predicates '{something}Th1s1sAFuncT10nThatReturnsABooleanValueAndILikeCheese', say), it might be worth breaking, even if it's initially distracting. Presumably you want to be making the point that this is a convention that isn't worth breaking?
  - V-2 13y ago
    It is conventional to use "he" when you mean "someone" (regardless of the actual gender). Of course you may argue that this convention is evil, as a product of political oppression etc. etc. And I'm not even questioning that - my point is that this is beyond the point. Even if it's true, it doesn't mean it has to be brought up everywhere all the time. I'd like to be able to read an article on programming (or any other neutral subject) without an unrelated political or social agenda being shoved in my face, in whatever form. If somebody says "to hell with your pet peeves, this is more important and you're probably a bigot anyway", that's fine to me - it's a matter of taste. It gets on my nerves more when people pretend not to get the point at all (for the sake of polemics of course). "The use of the word she? Why on Earth would you think it sticks out? Of course if one becomes a programmer, then as a programmer she bears certain responsibilities. I can't see what you mean? I'm stumped? Why can't you read on - you're stupid, huh?" (as aaren subtly hinted in reply to my previous comment)
    - jkarni 13y ago
      What? It has to be brought up everywhere. That's the whole point behind trying to change usage: people are supposed to start doing it, and then it's likely to brought to your mind. Unless your point is that you're tired of it coming out as an explicit point for discussion, as in this current thread of the conversation. That's optional to the core of the effort.
      - V-2 13y ago
        "It has to be brought up everywhere. That's the whole point behind trying to change usage" It's not much of a point then ;) If it even did some good to anyone. But all this linguistic ritual smells of magical thinking to me. The idea that if you change the usus and call things differently, they will change. It's pushing on a string. Basically it's another incarnation of Facebook's "liking this picture will end world hunger" :) No, fixing the world is not that simple. Just you wait, gender inequality - I'll replace all the "he"s with "she"s on my blog. Ouch that's tough blow, I can only hope my misogyne silicone bracelet will shield me! "Unless your point is that you're tired of it coming out as an explicit point for discussion, as in this current thread of the conversation. That's optional to the core of the effort." If one decides to be importunate and pushy (ever had that friend who wouldn't talk about anything else that 9/11 conspiracy, for example - be it at work, at lunch, parties...?) - fine, but don't be surprised if it creates backlash and is counter-effective on occasions. It's a trade-off that should be weighed in. You're free to use that tactic just as I'm free to comment on it :)

why not?

V-2 13y ago

It's unconventional, and hence distracting. It's a mental bump, it gets you thinking "why so?" instead of focusing on the text. Pretty much the same problem as violating coding convention in source code.

garg 13y ago
Human language is and will always be much more forgiving than coding conventions in source code. It wasn't distracting for me and it is fairly conventional now to use he and she interchangeably. Conventions change in language.
aaren 13y ago
' she ' occurs a total of four times in the entire thing. If you're getting noticeably slowed down by these four mental bumps then perhaps it is more you and not the text.
jkarni 13y ago
I don't get your point. Obviously if it's a really bad convention (naming all predicates '{something}Th1s1sAFuncT10nThatReturnsABooleanValueAndILikeCheese', say), it might be worth breaking, even if it's initially distracting. Presumably you want to be making the point that this is a convention that isn't worth breaking?
- V-2 13y ago
  It is conventional to use "he" when you mean "someone" (regardless of the actual gender). Of course you may argue that this convention is evil, as a product of political oppression etc. etc. And I'm not even questioning that - my point is that this is beyond the point. Even if it's true, it doesn't mean it has to be brought up everywhere all the time. I'd like to be able to read an article on programming (or any other neutral subject) without an unrelated political or social agenda being shoved in my face, in whatever form. If somebody says "to hell with your pet peeves, this is more important and you're probably a bigot anyway", that's fine to me - it's a matter of taste. It gets on my nerves more when people pretend not to get the point at all (for the sake of polemics of course). "The use of the word she? Why on Earth would you think it sticks out? Of course if one becomes a programmer, then as a programmer she bears certain responsibilities. I can't see what you mean? I'm stumped? Why can't you read on - you're stupid, huh?" (as aaren subtly hinted in reply to my previous comment)
  - jkarni 13y ago
    What? It has to be brought up everywhere. That's the whole point behind trying to change usage: people are supposed to start doing it, and then it's likely to brought to your mind. Unless your point is that you're tired of it coming out as an explicit point for discussion, as in this current thread of the conversation. That's optional to the core of the effort.
    - V-2 13y ago
      "It has to be brought up everywhere. That's the whole point behind trying to change usage" It's not much of a point then ;) If it even did some good to anyone. But all this linguistic ritual smells of magical thinking to me. The idea that if you change the usus and call things differently, they will change. It's pushing on a string. Basically it's another incarnation of Facebook's "liking this picture will end world hunger" :) No, fixing the world is not that simple. Just you wait, gender inequality - I'll replace all the "he"s with "she"s on my blog. Ouch that's tough blow, I can only hope my misogyne silicone bracelet will shield me! "Unless your point is that you're tired of it coming out as an explicit point for discussion, as in this current thread of the conversation. That's optional to the core of the effort." If one decides to be importunate and pushy (ever had that friend who wouldn't talk about anything else that 9/11 conspiracy, for example - be it at work, at lunch, parties...?) - fine, but don't be surprised if it creates backlash and is counter-effective on occasions. It's a trade-off that should be weighed in. You're free to use that tactic just as I'm free to comment on it :)