From: Kevin Smith <sent@...>
Date: 2001-01-28T03:58:40+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:9983] Re: Ruby refs on Slashdot

David Alan Black wrote:
>Anyway, I'd be interested in what the more slashdot-cognizant among us
>thing about the help/hurt potential in material like this.  And, to
>the extent that the ratio is unfavorable, whether there's any way not
>only to respond point-by-point, but to somehow make it less likely
>that the next person who tries Ruby, and the next, and the
>next.... will reinvent (and get snagged on) comparisons like this.
>
>Or is it just a matter of the passage of time and an additive effect?

Slashdot typically has lots of posts from people 
who do not have a true understanding of the topic 
being discussed. The XP item was a perfect 
example. People who heard one or two sentences 
about XP were very vocal about why it was good or 
(more often) bad, or why it couldn't possibly 
work.

I don't expect those nattering nabobs of 
negativity to be drawn to Ruby as a result of a 
/. posting anyway. And anyone who takes /. posts 
unquestioningly is not worth discussing. 

Trying to post rebuttals during an active debate 
doesn't seem to be very effective, because the 
arguments tend to be emotional rather than 
factual. Perhaps after the item is a week or more 
old, you might post some rebuttals that wouldn't 
get flamed, but would live on in the archives for 
people who look at the piece weeks or months 
later.

The fact that Ruby was mentioned will get some 
open-minded people to take a look, and that's a 
good thing. 

Kevin