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From: pem@cadnetix.COM (Paul Meyer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Tail patches
Message-ID: <10385@cadnetix.COM>
Date: 28 Nov 89 21:12:35 GMT
References: <5212@internal.Apple.COM> <32982@mirror.UUCP> <5248@internal.Apple.COM> <9012@hoptoad.uucp> <5296@internal.Apple.COM> <9041@hoptoad.uucp>
Sender: news@cadnetix.COM
Reply-To: pem@cadnetix.COM (Paul Meyer)
Organization: Cadnetix Corp.,  Boulder, CO
Lines: 37

In article <9041@hoptoad.uucp> tim@hoptoad.UUCP (Tim Maroney) writes:
>But Paul, you are missing the point.  Every case I've seen here where
>people argue with you is because you have *not* raised any compelling
>argument.  It seems you want us all to put "DTS said it, that settles
>it, and I believe it" bumper stickers on our cars.  I am referring only
>to you; most other Apple employees here have much better network
>manners.  You, however, specialize in responses which are inane and
>peremptory; for example, your messages on tail patches that nowhere
>included a technical explanation of the problem with them, or your
>message on file ids that completely ignored every point I raised (as
>some other posters noted at the time).

	I'm sorry, Tim, but I just can't let this go by.  It's true that
when you, or somebody who I know is competent to talk about it, take DTS
or Apple to task about something, I pay attention.  The fact is, this
whole flamefest started with somebody asking what a tail patch is and
whining that he "ought" to be able to do it.  DTS is a bunch of people
whose *job* is to track the pitfalls of programming Macs (Apples), and
I can't stand to see everybody taking pot-shots at them because they say
that we *shouldn't* do something because it is likely to break.  Your
job also requires you to keep up with things, and you are qualified to
take pot-shots.  Most of the people who whine about things *don't* have
the perspective on what Mac development looks like that you or the DTS
people do.
	Additionally, if I ask you, "Tim, why shouldn't I go out in
the snow naked", I would be very surprised indeed if you gave me a nice
60-line explanation of body temperature, wind chill, biochemistry, and
the phase of the moon.  You would answer, with precisely the information
that I seek, "because you would get sick or die."  I'd rather see DTS
answering simple questions simply so they can get to the meaty questions
and spend the time on *them*.  A simple answer can always receive a
request for more information if it really is needed.

Paul Meyer                      pem@cadnetix.COM
Daisy/Cadnetix Inc. (DAZIX)	{uunet,boulder}!cadnetix!pem
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