Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!voder!dtg.nsc.com!andrew
From: andrew@dtg.nsc.com (Lord Snooty @ The Giant Poisoned Electric Head       )
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: It looks like he's at it again!
Summary: a brief essay
Message-ID: <1287@berlioz.nsc.com>
Date: 11 Jul 90 23:20:16 GMT
References: <2328@l.cc.purdue.edu> <1990Jul10.072443.4844@cs.UAlberta.CA> <63692@sgi.sgi.com>
Distribution: comp.arch
Organization: National Semiconductor, Santa Clara
Lines: 41



	The Psychology of the HLL Afficionado
	-------------------------------------

Assembler is bad. Assembler is good.
Let's get a metric on this; a handle.. let's argue the relative merits.

On second thoughts, let's not. Because you know, and I know, that what
will result is not a resolution, but a protracted discussion. Very protracted.

So I suggest an alternative attack; a sideways swipe at the Gordian Knot of
HLL vs. Assembler. How would it be to propose that an HLL afficianado is
so predisposed by virtue of his/her own psychology? Well, that's a way.

HLL-a's generally sit on the anal-retentive end of the spectrum (excuse
the pun). They like to believe that shielding a problem, wrapping it up
prettily, will enhance its positive aspects and downplay the negative.
The more tasteless tend to exhibit doily-wrapped toilet rolls and dolls
with frilly dresses in the back windows of their cars. They obsessively
tidy the wires behind their stereo systems. They straighten their picture
and their stack frames on a regular basis. They never repair their own
automobiles.

HLL-a's have a mission - a dream of a higher conceptual order. And when
the known universe does not fit into this pretty structure, they will
not compromise. Instead of adding an extra boondoggle (which DOES NOT
BELONG!) in the structure, they are quite happy to accommodate unruly reality
with a larger, more elegant, slower structure - which is conformant and
utterly monstrous.

And so we see confronted the prissy fanatic obsessive and the down-and-dirty
let's-make-it-work pragmatist.

There's no victor and no vanquished; there's just your choice, l&g.

It's a question of style.
-- 
...........................................................................
Andrew Palfreyman	that asteroid has our names on it
andrew@dtg.nsc.com			" 'course, the 'addock's very nice "