tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704551.post113451123264881441..comments2023-06-16T08:36:30.489-04:00Comments on Shiny Things Distract Us: You Wrongheaded Fool: Torvalds on GNOMEFraxashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01250589389977400643noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704551.post-1134753610656741442005-12-16T12:20:00.000-05:002005-12-16T12:20:00.000-05:00oh dear.you write [eg] "the idea that anyone would...oh dear.<BR/><BR/>you write [eg] "the idea that anyone would listen to [linus] on the matter of what constitutes a good user interface is laughable." this is not an argument; it is an attempt to discredit. it is known as "you can hardly talk" reply. it is not a refutation, but an insult. <BR/><BR/>you know, i agree that many sound bites of conventional wisdom, like the one linus picked up, are very annoying; they often carry little meaning and value while <EM>pretending</EM> otherwise. on the other hand, a dispassionate analysis [and perhaps refutation] of such statements is always a good exercise; one you could well have provided...<BR/><BR/>thanks for the space to comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704551.post-1134663229548654032005-12-15T11:13:00.000-05:002005-12-15T11:13:00.000-05:00Whether my anger is justified, it's real. And I d...Whether my anger is justified, it's real. And I do feel strongly that attitudes like Torvalds' and like the misattributed-to-Murphy quote you mention hold back the state of the art of design. They're elitist (which isn't always a bad thing) and untrue (which really, really is.) I'd argue I'm not attacking Linus' credibility -- I'm pointing out that he holds opinions that damage his credibility. That system-design quote is as wrong as "the sky is green". It's not just untrue, it's pernicious. It leads to bad design.<BR/><BR/>On another note, I'm not sure I understand your question. I do assert that interfaces that don't "melt away" for the Lazy, or the Impatient, or the Stupid, regardless of their other attributes, are flawed. In this case, I'm not so much attacking Linus' attack on GNOME, I'm attacking his reasoning.Fraxashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01250589389977400643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7704551.post-1134660712566955902005-12-15T10:31:00.000-05:002005-12-15T10:31:00.000-05:00fraxas, i am not sure if your anger is really just...fraxas, i am not sure if your anger is really justified, and attacking his credibility is probably not the right way to argue this.<BR/><BR/>question: if some interface is not <EM>melting away</EM> for a power user, who is lazy, impatient but very, very smart, would your first suspect be your power user?<BR/><BR/><EM>trapped in experiences</EM>: that is a very interesting observation...<BR/><BR/>btw, he is re-using a quote from earlier days of system design [now attributed to murphy, but that is wrong]: "Build a system that even a fool can use, and only a fool will want to use it."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com