http://qs321.pair.com?node_id=319113


in reply to Let's discuss Podmaster's Signature

Please dont allow your personal opinions to influence what is clearly a monestery matter of great importance
A matter of great importance? I've always thought that MJD's maxim is delightful for the way it immediately addresses many misconceptions about computing, more specifically the way it addresses programming misconceptions in a seemingly complex but ultimately koan-esque fashion. Instead of a gentle correction, MJD employs an agitated, angry voice. It strips the subject of the veil of comfortable ignorance by chastizing (little L) laziness -- the desire not for synthesis of knowledge, for expansion and growth of the mind, but for an immediate and munificent catholicon to some problem. He says here, "look, you've clearly not done any work of your own of any merit. You've described a problem, and the work you've provided to show effort toward solving the problem is really no effort whatsoever". The capstone of his statement, "retardo" shocks the reader; its use implies that the original question was not simply poorly researched, but it insulted the reader by being of such stunngingly poor quality that it actively prevented the act of erudition and advancement.

Oh, and writing

[...]your own opinion, which is clearly flawed[...]
makes you look presumptuous and undermines your thesis.