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i've been really "nice" about every single comment here on HN... but i can't help but let you know that this comment is single-handedly the most pompous one of

i've been really "nice" about every single comment here on HN... but i can't help but let you know that this comment is single-handedly the most pompous one of all. "substantial writing"...? really? "serious" writers? I could list 10,000 pieces of GLORIOUS work that was crafted on nothing more than "pen" and "paper" ... or perhaps just "paper" and "ink" and "typewriter"... PEN + PAPER == Maximally-minimal "app"... and in that way, with Desk, I was attempting to create an homage, of sorts, to the "old way" of creating great writing work. keeping it simple, effective, useful. minimalist apps are for the serious and the playful, for those that are writing epic novels (one user of Desk is a multi-New York Times winning author) and those that are, as you say, "pretending" to write (like my 8-year old daughter, perhaps: http://john.do/gift-writing/ http://john.do/gift-writing/). but, it all, at the end of the day, is still writing... "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." ~~~ Ernest Hemingway http://john.do/writer/ http://john.do/writer/

SafariDevelop 12y ago
>> Minimalist apps are for people who want to play 'pretend' at writing. > this comment is single-handedly the most pompous one of all. It is interesting to note that HN's commenting guideline is to "Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say in a face to face conversation." yet, the folks here are downvoting puranjay's neutral 'pretend' comment (not targeted at anyone in particular) while upholding yours (you don't tell someone to their face that they made a pompous remark). What hypocrisy.
- saddington 12y ago
  this comment will go nowhere, but, i'll try... you're right. i should have taken a step back here. i am being hypocritical and i am (was) wrong. great catch and thanks for that safaridevelop.
  - SafariDevelop 12y ago
    You are welcome, and thanks for acknowledging without getting defensive. My hypocrisy comment was not directed at you, but to the general HN crowd that upvoted yours while downvoting that of puranjay (it had negative votes at the time of my comment). I have seen this happen with my own comments which, although meticulously researched and not offensive, sometimes get down voted to oblivion just because I challenge a dominating belief here. It shows me that people can be all smart as they want, and yet continue holding on to their beliefs like a tribe member defending tribe values.
puranjay 12y ago
Agreed and agreed. Tolstoy didn't write War & Peace with Scrivener, after all. But what Tolstoy did have was a thick notebook filled with copious notes. As did every other writer. Heck, there was a picture going round a few days ago of JK Rowling's huge spreadsheet with plot information, all written on paper. Now, you can of course get yourself a notebook and take your notes and get your writing done in a minimalist app, but since we are talking about using the computer alone to get all your writing done, I won't bring pen and paper into the equation. Desk replaces the typewriter. It doesn't replace the notebook and endless scribbles and marginalia. For that, you still need a tool like Scrivener.

SafariDevelop 12y ago

>> Minimalist apps are for people who want to play 'pretend' at writing. > this comment is single-handedly the most pompous one of all. It is interesting to note that HN's commenting guideline is to "Be civil. Don't say things you wouldn't say in a face to face conversation." yet, the folks here are downvoting puranjay's neutral 'pretend' comment (not targeted at anyone in particular) while upholding yours (you don't tell someone to their face that they made a pompous remark). What hypocrisy.

saddington 12y ago
this comment will go nowhere, but, i'll try... you're right. i should have taken a step back here. i am being hypocritical and i am (was) wrong. great catch and thanks for that safaridevelop.
- SafariDevelop 12y ago
  You are welcome, and thanks for acknowledging without getting defensive. My hypocrisy comment was not directed at you, but to the general HN crowd that upvoted yours while downvoting that of puranjay (it had negative votes at the time of my comment). I have seen this happen with my own comments which, although meticulously researched and not offensive, sometimes get down voted to oblivion just because I challenge a dominating belief here. It shows me that people can be all smart as they want, and yet continue holding on to their beliefs like a tribe member defending tribe values.

puranjay 12y ago

Agreed and agreed. Tolstoy didn't write War & Peace with Scrivener, after all. But what Tolstoy did have was a thick notebook filled with copious notes. As did every other writer. Heck, there was a picture going round a few days ago of JK Rowling's huge spreadsheet with plot information, all written on paper. Now, you can of course get yourself a notebook and take your notes and get your writing done in a minimalist app, but since we are talking about using the computer alone to get all your writing done, I won't bring pen and paper into the equation. Desk replaces the typewriter. It doesn't replace the notebook and endless scribbles and marginalia. For that, you still need a tool like Scrivener.