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From: ForthNet@willett.pgh.pa.us (ForthNet articles from GEnie)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: X3J14 Goals
Message-ID: <2691.UUL1.3#5129@willett.pgh.pa.us>
Date: 28 Apr 91 21:26:51 GMT
Organization: (n.) to be organized.  But that's not important right now.
Lines: 40

Category 10,  Topic 39
Message 61        Sun Apr 28, 1991
F.SERGEANT [Frank]           at 00:29 CDT
 
 GS>The loyal opposition also has a messsage, and I happen to disagree with 
 GS>your attempts to shout them down with your 'IMPLIMENT OR SHUTUP' 
 GS>decree. 
  Gary, I'm shocked to see you express such a strong opinion!  I agree  with
you.  I might even go farther and suggest that dissent is never out of  order,
and that criticisms of the final ANS Forth standard (if there ever  is such a
thing) should still be welcome.
  We have recently seen several postings from members of X3J14 that suggest 
to me that the strain of their work is adversely affecting their good  humor,
and perhaps their judgement as well.  I can understand how they  must feel
after putting so much work, money, time, and argument into  the project.  How
dare anyone criticize them!  After investing all  that how can they stay
impartial?  I'm more impressed by Mitch's calm  reasoning and some of JAX's
former calm reasoning (where he basically  said Why ANSI? For the money!) than
by the recent use of "Shut up!" as  an argument.
  I haven't been "attacking the standard" lately for several reasons.   One is
that I figure no matter who is on the committee, no matter what  they decide,
the result will not completely suit me.  Two is that  whatever they decide it
can't hurt me much.  Three is that JAX is  probably right that, regardless of
the technical quality or lack, there  might be occasions to wave the magic
ANSI wand to bless a bid.  Four is  that if Jim Rash votes for it the result
can't be all bad.  Fifth is  that I feel sure there is no way my absolute
preferred outcome can  happen: the committee agree not to have a standard at
all.  So, I look  at it all sort of like the tide or gravity -- no point in
wasting any  energy regretting it.
  Some one posted a complaint about the standards controversy and  wondered if
this meant he should develop in another language.  He  should keep all this
controversy in perspective.  Even when JAX uses  "shut up!" as an argument he
is still posting very helpful and polite  answers to technical questions that
beginners etc post.  A religious  war over which end of the egg to open, but
then unfailing assistance to  anyone asking for help.
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