From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
Message-ID: <064aa7ffee2a4fbb26f76714c8bcfef3@csplan9.rit.edu>
To: 9fans@cse.psu.edu
Subject: Re: [9fans] Colors and other fun
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 06:18:29 -1000
From: john@csplan9.rit.edu
In-Reply-To: <08d52a5efa996c205c60302e84f5cbcc@coraid.com>
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> you wouldn't put up with a car that had 1000 options that needed
> configuring before you could comfortably go down the road.  why
> put up with it in software?
>

So it's better to use an editor which *doesn't* allow you to configure
it at all than to use one which lets you set every detail? Last time
I checked, I could start up vi and get to work, without needing to
set 1000 options. I wouldn't do such a thing, because I use emacs,
but you get my drift. (vi isn't comfortable no matter how many
options you set)

To continue with the analogy--why are so many computer analogies
about cars, and why are they so bad?--vi is more like a car where
you can give yourself automatic windows at a whim, change the
body color, swap out seats, change the steering wheel to a fighter
jet stick, or hang fluffy dice in the windows. A more suitable
analogy for acme would be a seat in an airliner. You get a seat,
it's pretty comfortable, you can do a few things, but your
environment is irrevocably set as the inside of a 737, in a blue seat,
with a screaming kid next to you.
(does the screaming kid represent uriel? Let's not go too deep).

That said, I'm writing this email from acme. It grows on you. I'm pretty
happy with it in most cases. I just have a strong desire to be able to
customize *something*; maybe it gives me the illusion of power.

Sometimes (all times) it's more fun to troll than to work.


John