The Longer Trend

[jtabeb]

Re: The Longer Trend

Once you set off someone's BS detector (as no doubt I've often done myself) then communication usually ceases and the reason(s) presented to justify such mean little.

I know, that's a real shame. Some of the most important things I've learned came about when I pressed on (While the BS detector was fully pegged).

If you can accept that not everything written by an author will be correct or valid, and learn to accept only the correct or valid parts, while excluding the invalid parts, you can learn some pretty damn amazing things. (Much more than if you just discount the entire work on the basis of "part of this work is invalid, so ALL of it must be invalid".)

I observed enough validity to include the article here. (most importantly, "Slogging through the manufactured minutia Ain't gonna get you the bigger picture").

That is entirely correct, IMHO.

[ThePythonicCow]

Re: The Longer Trend

If you can accept that not everything written by an author will be correct or valid, and learn to accept only the correct or valid parts, while excluding the invalid parts,

For that to work, one must have a deep trust in one's own inner compass, in one's mastery of the subject or arena at hand. In those cases, one welcomes the challenge of a worthy but unconventional foe.

Most of us, most of the time, myself included, hope the instructions on the box are idiot proof. Lord knows, we do our best to test that hypothesis.

(Of course, I overly dramatize this in black and white. There are many variations in between.)

[jtabeb]

Re: The Longer Trend

For that to work, one must have a deep trust in one's own inner compass, in one's mastery of the subject or arena at hand. In those cases, one welcomes the challenge of a worthy but unconventional foe.

Most of us, most of the time, myself included, hope the instructions on the box are idiot proof. Lord knows, we do our best to test that hypothesis.

(Of course, I overly dramatize this in black and white. There are many variations in between.)

For the record, I didn't have to do any of that with this article. I thought it was as clear as daylight.

[jtabeb]

Re: The Longer Trend

I'm only going to point out that he managed to lay a nice typo in the conclusion.

compressive->comprehensive

Not picking a fight, just pointing out the typo.

[ThePythonicCow]

Re: The Longer Trend

I thought it was as clear as daylight.

Yeah, me too. That and $2.95 will get you a cup o' joe at Starbucks.

[Rajiv]

Re: The Longer Trend

I thought that the article was a fair evaluation of contemporary affairs

[c1ue]

Re: The Longer Trend

For someone so concerned with 'white noise' - his writing sure is full if irrelevant stuff.

I'd personally suggest a good copy editor. At least 60% of the words can be cut from that article.

In general his 3 points aren't bad, but are obscured by very poor writing.

[radon]

Re: The Longer Trend

I agree with that sentiment.

Speaking as one whose BS detector is also regularly triggered I find it frustrating to consider the political motivations of every statement in order to weigh its accuracy. Some writers are worth the extra effort and some are not. Everyone has their own threshold.

[ThePythonicCow]

Re: The Longer Trend

I agree with that sentiment.

May I ask with which sentiment you are agreeing?

[radon]

Re: The Longer Trend

May I ask with which sentiment you are agreeing?

Your sentiment. Sorry for not quoting. This new interface has me a bit off. I also read in linear mode as I'm used to usenet.

[ThePythonicCow]

Re: The Longer Trend

Your sentiment. Sorry for not quoting. This new interface has me a bit off. I also read in linear mode as I'm used to usenet.

good - cool - thanks.

[flintlock]

Re: The Longer Trend

For someone so concerned with 'white noise' - his writing sure is full if irrelevant stuff.

I'd personally suggest a good copy editor. At least 60% of the words can be cut from that article.

In general his 3 points aren't bad, but are obscured by very poor writing.

Agree. I was basically criticizing the writing style, not the content. The former made the latter harder to discern than necessary. Not all of us have all day to read this stuff.