peter@ficc.ferranti.com (Peter da Silva) (03/26/91)
In article <21189:Mar2521:55:0691@kramden.acf.nyu.edu> brnstnd@kramden.acf.nyu.edu (Dan Bernstein) writes: > The problem > in this group is the failure of people to try to see past differences in > terminology and stick to technical issues. Difference in terminology *is* a technical issue, and when you're trying to communicate with someone... particularly when you're trying to convince them of something, you need to adapt to *their* terminology. I was just cruising through this message not paying much attention (at least not any more than it deserved) when I noticed this sentence. It's key. Now I'm in the process of re-reading "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman" and I was reminded of something. When in high school, Feynman taught himself a lot of math and invented his own symbols for trig functions. I'll let him take over now: "I thought my own symbols were just as good, if not better, than the regular symbols - it doesn't make any difference *what* symbols you use - but I discovered later that it *does* make a difference. Once, when I was explaining something to another kid in high school, without thinking I started to make these symbols, and he said ``What the hell are those?'' I realized then if I'm going to talk to anybody else I'll have to use the standard symbols, so I eventually gave up my own symbols." -- Richard Feynman, "Surely you're Joking, Mr. Feynman". Bantam Books, ISBN 0-553-25649-1 I would gladly recommend this book to anyone. -- Peter da Silva. `-_-' peter@ferranti.com +1 713 274 5180. 'U` "Have you hugged your wolf today?"