> > On 2011-03-16 14:13 , Joseph McAllister wrote: > >> It is counterproductive to produce a software or hardware commodity > to meet the needs of everyone who might use them. > > > > "meet the needs of everyone" is a bit rhetorical, but the general > idea has proven quite productive, e.g. for Microsoft and for the open > source community, to produce tools with a huge number of obscure > configuration options (whereas the options i'm talking about aren't > particularly obscure); and lord knows the web browsing experience is > immensely configurable through JavaScript and HTML5; there is a tension > between doing this and also having the options stay out of the way > > > > that's not what i'm talking about though -- at this point the > discussion is about the phenomenology of email and workflow choices, > although if your email client bunches up the thread it might be harder > to follow ;?> > > > The phenomenology of email? HAR! Way to lob a big word at the > opposition. > Phenomenology is the study of phenomena -- the plural of phenomenon. > "Phenomenon" is somewhat obtuse, but it generally means an occurrence, > usually relating to nature. So you're saying the discussion is about > the study of natural occurrences of email? Minus ten points for > obfuscation. > Paul
phenomenology is a philolsophical method which says that we can only approach the world (phenomena) through the experiences of our own mind. It is one of the foundations of existentialism - Sartre was a phenomenologist. So what we are witnessing here is the application of existentialism to email, and that's probably why you're experiencing nausea. However, it would be wrong to let your nausea get the better of you. Since phenomenology limits you to discussing your own experiences, you can do it anywhere. Simone de Beauvoir reports that one of their friends introduced Sartre to it by pointing at his glass and saying 'You see, my dear fellow, if you are a phenomenologist, you can talk about this cocktail and make a philosophy out of it'. On learning this, Sartre turned 'pale with emotion'. That, for me, makes it ideal for the PDML - Phenomenologists Discussing Margaritas Lovingly. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
