Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!rick
From: rick@seismo.CSS.GOV (Rick Adams)
Newsgroups: news.misc
Subject: Re: A great way of hosing the 4-line signature limit.
Message-ID: <44046@beno.seismo.CSS.GOV>
Date: Wed, 5-Aug-87 13:30:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: beno.44046
Posted: Wed Aug  5 13:30:22 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Aug-87 02:19:48 EDT
References: <1418@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU> <485@unisoft.UUCP>
Organization: Center for Seismic Studies, Arlington, VA
Lines: 22
Summary: reality check

In article <485@unisoft.UUCP>, jef@unisoft.uucp (Jef Poskanzer) writes:
> 
> The sad, pathetic truth is that if those who put significant time and
> effort (but insignificant thought) into the 50% rule and the four-line
> signature rule had instead put that time into implementing workable
> solutions to the problems, then the obnoxious workarounds would not
> be necessary.


The real truth is that the 50% rule took about 15 minutes to implement
including compiling and testing. It works well in almost every case.
I seriously doubt that a better solution could have been worked out
in that time.

The point you miss is that it is supposed to make you think about it.
(Remember, you get the source, so you can remove the restriction if
you want. You just have to make an effort).

The 50% rule is there to slow down people who make long replies without
thinking about it. In that respect, it is an unqualified success.

---rick