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From: eric@snark.thyrsus.com (Eric S. Raymond)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers,comp.misc
Subject: Re: MULTICS and the Jargon File
Message-ID: <1Yj6vG#9ptPFF4l7CVP8f7nZQ2fMzGf=eric@snark.thyrsus.com>
Date: 7 Dec 90 16:17:18 GMT
References: <1YfTW4#8MK9Xf8YJtZH970VXl0fFB3R=eric@snark.thyrsus.com> <1990Dec3.193049.8771@sctc.com> <12248@milton.u.washington.edu> <1YgzZ0#1bb89X3cQmgD00tBfF8KX0N9=eric@snark.thyrsus.com> <12392@milton.u.washington.edu>
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Back-References: <61408@bbn.BBN.COM>

In <12392@milton.u.washington.edu> Mark Crispin wrote:
>                             [replying to me]
> >I'm considering it. My problem is that while the PDP-10 isn't quite dead,
> >it and a lot of the PDP-10 derived slang are no longer alive *in hackerdom*.
> 
> So what?  A lot of the slang in the original jargon file was already
> old or out of use.  The entire reason for the jargon file was (1) to
> document the extant slang, (2) to preserve the older terms.  You
> should not presume to put yourself in the position of deciding that
> something should be forgotten.

But this is precisely what I am *not* doing. Nothing from the original
jargon file has been deleted!

> > I relegated TECO to the Appendix because
> >at this point it's something hackers tell war stories about but don't
> >*use*.
> 
> Again, bullshit.  There is quite an active TECO user's group at DECUS.

Fine. I'll move TECO back to the main text, then.
 
> >My decision: it now reads `MESS-DOS' (accurately reflecting current hackish
> >sentiment) but I have added a parenthetical note to the effect that ITS fans
> >used to say this of UNIX.
> 
> You should not presume to make such a decision without consultation
> and agreement with the others who worked on it before you.  The Jargon
> file is community property, yes; but that does not give you or anyone
> ownership rights to it.

Nor have I claimed any. *None of my decisions are written in stone* --
all the editing is on-line, thank you, and changing things is really easy.
Do you have a substantive problem with this particular one, or are you
upset that I'm making routine editorial decisions at all?
-- 
      Eric S. Raymond = eric@snark.thyrsus.com  (mad mastermind of TMN-Netnews)