RE: Did we have another name change?

[James Rich <james@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 10 Apr 2006, Joe Pluta wrote:

> > From: James Rich
> >
> > I prefer to use software that doesn't annoy me and does what I tell it to
> > do instead of what it thinks I might want.  If I want a letter capitalized
> > I will capitalize it.  Software is not supposed to control my life or my
> > spelling.  Let's not blame the english language or its evolution, but
> > instead let us focus on the problem:  poor software.
>
> Now, now, James.  At no time did was I blaming the English language.  I was
> blaming IBM for a really poor name on several fronts, not just the spelling
> issue.  For example, your opinion about software doesn't help with the line
> break between "System" and "i", unless of course you use software that
> doesn't word wrap at the end of the line.  (That's possible, I suppose,
> since you only want the software to do what you tell it to.)
>
> And of course, it does nothing to help with the fact that the possessive and
> plural forms are the same, unless we go to Systems i.

Yes, you are right, you didn't blame the english language.  I misspoke. 
My point is that if some software makes writing something difficult blame 
the software, not what is being written.  "System i" may well be a bad 
name, but software should not get in the way of your writing it.

btw - funny you should mention software that doesn't wrap at the end of 
lines.  Point well made.  But it turns out I do often use software that 
doesn't wrap at the end of lines.  And I really enjoy it :)

James Rich

It's not the software that's free; it's you.
        - billyskank on Groklaw