In article <CtwLv2.E54@cwi.nl>, Olaf Weber <olaf@cwi.nl> wrote:

  [Thoughtful replies to Ronald F. Guilmette's criticisms of recent C++
   extensions deleted.]

Ronald F. Guilmette then writes:
>
>> Then there's the ultimate example of ``design by INTERNATIONAL committee''
>> in this era of PC (political correctness) where the entire planet has to
>> bend over backwards just to prove that we're not prejudiced against lazy
>> left-handed Latvians.  I'm speaking (of course) about digraphs.  Aren't
>> you just so relieved to know that left-handed Latvians won't be forced to
>> occasionally use their right-hands to hit certain keys (or to hit three
>> keys rather than two) when typing C++ programs?  I sure am.
>

To which, Olaf Weber replies:
>The point here wasn't writability, but readability: trigraphs didn't
>solve that at all.  And the problem that digraphs are supposed to
>solve doesn't exist for "lazy left-handed Latvians" only, but also
>(among others) in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary,
>Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.  Why do Americans so often
                                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>insist on imposing their provincialisms on the rest of the world?
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

How about "Why does THIS American so often insist on imposing HIS
provincialisms on the rest of the world?"  :)

I am not passing judgement on Mr. Guilmette, just suggesting a rewording
of the highlighted statement.  Perceptions are all too frequently subjective
and inaccurate.

--
===============================================================================
Rich James                  rsj@feenix.metronet.com
Voice: 214-604-3388         FAX: 214-604-4348
===============================================================================

In article <Ctwz2q.8Ko@metronet.com>, rsj@metronet.com (Richard S. James Jr.) writes:

> In article <CtwLv2.E54@cwi.nl>, Olaf Weber <olaf@cwi.nl> wrote:
[ Lots of text deleted. ]
>> Why do Americans so often insist on imposing their provincialisms
>> on the rest of the world?

> How about "Why does THIS American so often insist on imposing HIS
> provincialisms on the rest of the world?"  :)

Somehow I just _knew_ that this single sentence would be the one that
people would fall over.

> I am not passing judgement on Mr. Guilmette, just suggesting a
> rewording of the highlighted statement.  Perceptions are all too
> frequently subjective and inaccurate.

It was of course a rhetorical device, in the same league as the "lazy
left-handed Latvians" mentioned by Mr. Guilmette.

Do I really have to insert smileys everywhere to simple rhetoric being
misunderstood for deeply held convictions?  [Note, again a rhetorical
question, insert :-) if needed.]

-- Olaf Weber

In article <CtyBHK.10q@cwi.nl>, Olaf Weber <olaf@cwi.nl> wrote:
>In article <Ctwz2q.8Ko@metronet.com>, rsj@metronet.com (Richard S. James Jr.) writes:
>
>> In article <CtwLv2.E54@cwi.nl>, Olaf Weber <olaf@cwi.nl> wrote:
>[ Lots of text deleted. ]
>>> Why do Americans so often insist on imposing their provincialisms
>>> on the rest of the world?
>
>> How about "Why does THIS American so often insist on imposing HIS
>> provincialisms on the rest of the world?"  :)
>
>Somehow I just _knew_ that this single sentence would be the one that
>people would fall over.
>
>> I am not passing judgement on Mr. Guilmette, just suggesting a
>> rewording of the highlighted statement.  Perceptions are all too
>> frequently subjective and inaccurate.
>
>It was of course a rhetorical device, in the same league as the "lazy
>left-handed Latvians" mentioned by Mr. Guilmette.
>
>Do I really have to insert smileys everywhere to simple rhetoric being
>misunderstood for deeply held convictions?  [Note, again a rhetorical
>question, insert :-) if needed.]
>
>-- Olaf Weber

You misread my comments or are simply overreacting to them.  I don't know you
well enough to know what your deeply held convictions are.  My comments were
not a flame of, or even a hostile riposte to, your comments.  It was an attempt
at a small, friendly suggestion, especially considering the international
readership of this newsgroup.

I've enjoyed your postings thus far.  They are intelligent and insightful.

Unfortunately, I've done something I hate:  started a non-C++ thread of
discussion in a newsgroup dedicated to the standardization of C++!  So, I'm
dropping this topic in this public forum.  However, if you like, we can
continue to discuss this topic via private email.

--
===============================================================================
Rich James                  rsj@feenix.metronet.com
Voice: 214-604-3388         FAX: 214-604-4348
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------