Re: "like other editors" [was: Re: Poll about proposed change in DEL (aka Backspace) and Delete]

[Jeremiah Dodds]

On Tue, Oct 4, 2011 at 7:44 AM, ken <gebser@mousecar.com> wrote:
> Jeremiah,
>
> To be considered a *hidden* assumption (which is what you really meant to
> say) to a proposition, it must logically necessary for that proposition.
>  What you're calling "assumptions" below are not.
>
>

Luckily we are not using a language where words only have one meaning,
nor are we in a discussion where all the definitions of words are
meant to have the definition used in logic.

Since you seem to be either trying to dismiss arguments by  finding
flaws unrelated to the main points of the arguments, or actually
missing the main points of the arguments by being distracted or
something, here are my main issues with the post you made earlier in a
condensed form:

  1.  You are making it sound like the sole reason for people wanting
the change is so that emacs will act like other editors. Even if this
is the case, analysis of the change should not stop there, what should
be looked at (if possible) is whether or not there's a good reason why
many other editors have the proposed behavior. If there is, then the
argument about changing "just" to emulate other editors doesn't hold
well.

  2.  The argument about wanting to avoid changes because they are
"appeals to fashion" can be applied to wanting to make the change with
just as much weight. Keeping the behavior just because "that's the way
it is" is just as much of an "appeal to fashion", it's just appealing
to the fashion current in Emacs.

The same flaw that is present in the whole of your argument is present
in that second point -- the arguments *for* keeping the behavior are
*not* as simple as "well that's just the way it is". The arguments
*against* keeping the behavior are also not just "but Mom, everyone is
wearing them!".