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From: ForthNet@willett.pgh.pa.us (ForthNet articles from GEnie)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: X3J14 Goals
Message-ID: <2226.UUL1.3#5129@willett.pgh.pa.us>
Date: 12 Jan 91 03:56:03 GMT
Organization: (n.) to be organized.  But that's not important right now.
Lines: 47

Category 10,  Topic 39
Message 12        Thu Jan 10, 1991
B.RODRIGUEZ2 [Brad]          at 07:33 EST
 
*Sigh.*  I rest my case -- I complain about the endless parading of
credentials, and I get resumes for half the TC.

> It's a question of "the work to be done has largely been done and
 > PAID FOR, and the carpers-against by and large are ready neither to
 > re-do the work nor pay for it again....

First, this is a self-serving argument which can be used to justify never
backing down from any position.  The Defense Dept. uses the same line to
justify tremendous boondoggles -- "but we've put so much into this already, we
can't throw it away!"  I learned a different view in engineering school -- if
it's WRONG you DISCARD IT, never mind how much time and money you've wasted on
it!  (More succinctly stated as "never throw good money after bad".)

Second, the carpers-against by and large have been doing and paying for their
share of the work all along.  I, for one, have been contributing since BASIS6.
There are many others who have "burned out" in the process.  If this is a
contest of endurance or attrition, I guess we don't have the "dedication"
required.

I've been to one meeting, and yes, everybody gets heard.  Does everybody get
listened to?

LEARN THE BASIS - yes.
 ACCEPT THE BASIS - not without question!  If it's wrong, it's wrong.
 IMPROVE THE BASIS - we're trying, but becoming disillusioned.
 SUPPORT THE BASIS - only if it deserves it.

The "political" arguments I've been hearing have been of the form of Let's All
Get Behind The BASIS and Present A United Front To The World and Show The
Unaninimity Of The Forth Community and blah.  Any time now I expect to be
labelled "counterrevolutionary" and purged.

> what more could you ask for from a *S*T*A*N*D*A*R*D*.

I don't ask for more, I ask for less.

- Brad
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