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From: bob@cadovax.UUCP (Bob "Kat" Kaplan)
Newsgroups: net.unix,net.bugs
Subject: arguments to echo cmd (contains sensitive language)
Message-ID: <523@cadovax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Apr-85 18:01:23 EST
Article-I.D.: cadovax.523
Posted: Mon Apr  8 18:01:23 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 11-Apr-85 01:41:22 EST
Reply-To: bob@cadovax.UUCP (Bob "Kat" Kaplan)
Organization: Contel Cado, Torrance, CA
Lines: 24
Xref: watmath net.unix:4198 net.bugs:599

> If echo didn't print its arguments, what good would it be?!?

Even though the original question was an April fool's joke, I have
a valid (?) use of the echo command where I don't want the arguments
printed.

I wanted the computer to respond appropriately when the user enters
the word 'fuck.'  Unfortunately, since echo prints its arguments, the
alias (csh - 4.2 bsd):

alias	fuck	'echo Watch your language, asshole\!'

produces a conversation as follows:

% fuck you
Watch your language, asshole! you

To prevent the echoing of the user's arguments, I used the alias:

alias	fuck	'echo Watch your language, asshole\! ; echo \!* > /dev/null'
-- 
Bob Kaplan

"Our love burns like fire, then turns to ashes."