an observation on ranting [was: Re: Why the FreeBSD license will not be changing ]

[spellberg_robert]

greetings, all ---

sorry to take two months to get to this.
i am absolutely swamped by real work and
   i needed to clear out my in_box.
now, you know why i do not subscribe to -current.

i was looking forward to reading this thread,
   as i have some interest in the topic.
since it was moved to -chat,
   there were twelve posts over about 26 hours.
i found four friedmans, three robeys, two staceys and
   one, each, from [ alphabetically ] ross, smorgrav and wontroba.

only mr. ross had anything to type of substance,
   relating to the topic of the subject_line.
i will address a point in his post under separate cover.
the remaining posts had
   absolutely nothing to do with the stated topic.
also under separate cover,
   i will briefly address a tangential, but still off_topic, point
   made by mr. friedman.

i recognize most of these names.
they belong to people who, under other circumstances, have
   demonstrated the wisdom of experience coupled with
   an ability to make a cogent argument.
i do not seek to criticize any one or more in particular.

including the time to refill my coffee_cup,
   i spent about 30 minutes of my life,
   along with some additional minutes typing this
   [ in what is, probably, a vain hope
   ],
   discovering that this thread, on -chat, was mostly useless.
perhaps, in another two months,
   i will find the time to research the archives
   so as to learn if, else_where,
   some person actually typed something on_topic.

ranting about pedantry
   [ without regard to whether said pedantry is "according to hoyle"
   ],
   is, like ice_cream [1], a good_thing.
however, like ice_cream, one --can-- have too much.

unless, of course, someone changes the subject_line.
think of it as a courtesy.

rob



[1]  in accordance with the rules of political_correctness,
        as regulated by the disciples of anti_arendtian neo_totalitarianism,
        i here_by anticipatorily and pre_emptively
        apologize
        for any offense i may have caused to the lactose_intolerant.