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Apple of my crotchety eye
Santa Cruz (CA) Sentinel Style Magazine ^
| 4/11/2004
| Lex van den Berghe
Posted on 04/16/2004 7:44:59 PM PDT by Swordmaker
click here to read article
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"Not only do they make better and more intuitive products, but I relate to them as the rebels they are in the computer industry."
To: Bush2000; antiRepublicrat; LasVegasMac; Action-America; eno_; N3WBI3; zeugma; TechJunkYard; ...
For some reason the administrators have decided that a column in a legitimate newspaper is a "Blog"... well here it is.
Macintosh PING list alert.
If you want to be added or deleted to the Macintosh Ping List, please Freepmail me.
Also, if you post or find an Apple or Macintosh related thread, ping me so I can ping the list.
Swordmaker
2
posted on
04/16/2004 7:50:01 PM PDT
by
Swordmaker
(This tagline shut down for renovations and repairs. Re-open June of 2001.)
To: Swordmaker
Not only do they make better and more intuitive products... How would he know? He apparently "upgraded" directly to a Mac from his Smith-Corona. Wonder of wonders - he likes Macs better than typewriters. Pardon me while I recover from the shock of such an unexpected turn of events.
I'm sure that a guy who spent his entire life getting from place to place on a pogo stick would think that a Yugo was the greatest thing since the invention of fire, but he doesn't have much basis for opining that a Yugo is the best of all cars.
3
posted on
04/16/2004 8:13:43 PM PDT
by
general_re
(The doors to Heaven and Hell are adjacent and identical... - Nikos Kazantzakis)
To: Temple Owl
this guy likes his ipod.
4
posted on
04/16/2004 8:28:57 PM PDT
by
Tribune7
(Vote Toomey -- appeasement doesn't work)
To: general_re
How would he know? He apparently "upgraded" directly to a Mac from his Smith-Corona. It's only "apparent" if you're looking for a problem to have. A critical re-reading will show you're inferring quite a bit 8->
5
posted on
04/17/2004 5:29:06 AM PDT
by
Woahhs
To: Woahhs
He talks about his typewriter. He talks about his Apple. If you can find the bit where he talks about his experience with anything else at all, feel free to point it out ;)
6
posted on
04/17/2004 6:49:02 AM PDT
by
general_re
(The doors to Heaven and Hell are adjacent and identical... - Nikos Kazantzakis)
To: general_re
He talks about his typewriter. He talks about his Apple. If you can find the bit where he talks about his experience with anything else at all, feel free to point it out ;) Hey, you're the logic guy. Your proposition fits Argument Ad Ignorantiam to a tee. Taken along side: a) the number of PCs out there, and b) His rhetorical posture of comparison (though admittedly compared to what is unstated) when "intuitive" would be absurd if applied to a manual typewriter, and c) he's a grumpy bastard who writes, so by definition his migration to computers demands the computer he migrated to would have to be an improvement over his smith-corona (weg). All in all, I'd say you were hanging your hat on a very loose peg indeed.
7
posted on
04/17/2004 7:31:29 AM PDT
by
Woahhs
To: Woahhs
Uhhh, no. In fact, if you'll look objectively at this thing for a moment, the
author is guilty of that which you accuse me. He claims that Macs are the best, most intuitive products, and then provides absolutely no basis whatsoever for that opinion. None at all. And then it gets even better:
you assume that "the number of PCs out there" means that he probably had had some experience with PCs, despite the fact that he himself does not bother to mention any such thing. Hello? Can you say "assumes facts not in evidence"? Did you discover his PC experience via crystal ball, or is there some other method you prefer?
I have no idea what he did or didn't do in his life - all I have to go on is what he says. And thus far, he's provided no evidence of any reasonable basis for his opinion. Maybe he's just a crappy expository writer, and he forgot to mention that he worked with PCs for many years. I don't know, and I rather doubt that you do either, unless you're the author.
8
posted on
04/17/2004 7:47:20 AM PDT
by
general_re
(The doors to Heaven and Hell are adjacent and identical... - Nikos Kazantzakis)
To: general_re
Tsk, tsk, tsk. I'll grant you my humour might be a bit dry this a.m., but it's all in good fun.
Nevertheless, you infer quite explicitly he has no experience outside Macs and typewriters. As it is an inference, with no positive evidence, it is by definition "from ignorance."
I merely pointed out such an inference, while not beyond the realm of possibility, is exceedingly unlikely given the number of Macs one would run across relative to the number of PCs. It's not an assumption , it's a probability.
This is further buttressed by the proposition that referring to a manual typerwriter (the only other tool mentioned) as "intuitive" by comparison is as ill-fitting as referring to a mirror as "soft."
Next point, (this is getting kinda fun) going after my objectivity, to slip in a charge against the author of committing your error doesn't work because he was writing a subjective piece while you were writing about him, and my objectivity has nothing to do with either. He opined: you impugned. He doesn't have to prove he likes Macs; you do have to prove his preference is predicated on inexperience to be cogent.
On balance, I think if you will look at the entire exchange objectively, you will find you're looking to criticize a cat because you don't happen to like the word "meow."
9
posted on
04/17/2004 9:31:29 AM PDT
by
Woahhs
To: Woahhs
Nevertheless, you infer quite explicitly he has no experience outside Macs and typewriters. Errr, I said "He apparently 'upgraded' directly to a Mac from his Smith-Corona." Note the key weasel word - "apparently". ;)
I merely pointed out such an inference, while not beyond the realm of possibility, is exceedingly unlikely given the number of Macs one would run across relative to the number of PCs. It's not an assumption , it's a probability.
And it's still an inference of your own, since he does not state any experience with PCs. Really, is it a good idea to criticize what you see as my inferences by substituting your own?
This is further buttressed by the proposition that referring to a manual typerwriter (the only other tool mentioned) as "intuitive" by comparison is as ill-fitting as referring to a mirror as "soft."
Oh, come now - now I know you're joking. Why on earth can't a typewriter be "intuitive", but a computer can be?
He doesn't have to prove he likes Macs; you do have to prove his preference is predicated on inexperience to be cogent.
If I point out that his case is incomplete, I don't have to "prove" anything beyond that his case incomplete. Which it is. Perhaps he has experience with PCs that allows him to fairly label Macs as better products, but he certainly didn't discuss that here. QED.
:^)
10
posted on
04/17/2004 10:00:48 AM PDT
by
general_re
(The doors to Heaven and Hell are adjacent and identical... - Nikos Kazantzakis)
To: general_re
Okay. I give..... but I coulda kept goin' you know (running for cover)
11
posted on
04/17/2004 10:29:34 AM PDT
by
Woahhs
To: general_re
He knows! He probably started with a Vendex and then Packard Bell and then Ahhh! A mac, a friendly Mac. The Ipod is just icing on the cake.
To: general_re; Woahhs
Gentlemen, gentlemen. Go to your opposite corners.
As an impartial (ahem) party to this dispute, I shall arbitrate.
Cogitating.
Thinking.
Leaping to a conclusion.
OK. Macs are better. Fact. Done.
See. that was easy.
13
posted on
04/18/2004 2:47:18 AM PDT
by
Swordmaker
(This tagline shut down for renovations and repairs. Re-open June of 2001.)
To: Swordmaker
OK. Macs are better. Fact. Done. Better than typewriters? ;)
14
posted on
04/18/2004 3:10:22 AM PDT
by
general_re
(The doors to Heaven and Hell are adjacent and identical... - Nikos Kazantzakis)
To: general_re
Better than typewriters? ;) Except for filling out multi-part carbonless forms. Yes.
Oh, and they are better than PCs too...
15
posted on
04/18/2004 3:13:51 AM PDT
by
Swordmaker
(This tagline shut down for renovations and repairs. Re-open June of 2001.)
To: Swordmaker
OK. Macs are better. Fact. Done. See. that was easy. Oh, sure. Like I'm really going to trust YOU!
You're only saying that cause you work on PCs.
16
posted on
04/18/2004 3:14:05 AM PDT
by
Woahhs
To: Swordmaker; Woahhs
In all fairness, the guy probably is comparing it to Windows machines when he says a Mac is better. I saw my opening for a cheap shot, and I took it - sue me ;)
17
posted on
04/18/2004 3:14:40 AM PDT
by
general_re
(The doors to Heaven and Hell are adjacent and identical... - Nikos Kazantzakis)
To: general_re
I saw my opening for a cheap shot, and I took it - sue me ;) The subpoena is already in the mail... ;^)
18
posted on
04/18/2004 3:19:31 AM PDT
by
Swordmaker
(This tagline shut down for renovations and repairs. Re-open June of 2001.)
To: Woahhs
You're only saying that cause you work on PCs. OK, OK! Ya got me... I was fibbing a bit when I said I was impartial...
19
posted on
04/18/2004 3:21:02 AM PDT
by
Swordmaker
(This tagline shut down for renovations and repairs. Re-open June of 2001.)
To: Swordmaker; Woahhs
Say what are you two guys doing up so early on a Sunday morning? Are you on the East coast? I thought I was the only insane Freeper up this late on a Saturday night (I am in the Central Valley of California). I haven't been to bed yet.
20
posted on
04/18/2004 3:23:51 AM PDT
by
Swordmaker
(This tagline shut down for renovations and repairs. Re-open June of 2001.)
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