> insiders, and gives them a rough idea of pecking order. take away
> the mechanism, and others will be used to keep the general practice
> running. there's already some migration to technological accessories
> like cel phones and PDAs.
Amongst some people. Others... Why should I have a pager? Call me
before the crisis, and it won't happen.
> on this list, we expect someone to be willing to show a portfolio, or
> at least be able to demonstrate their ability at what they do. there
> are also taboos against pushing flash over content without a damn good
> excuse, and any failure to consider good user-interface practices. a
> certain minimum knowledge of intellectual property law is also fast
> becoming part of the minimum stake.
>
> the 'hacker' community is largely a meritocracy, but just watch the
> holy wars erupt when someone writes code using the 'wrong' indent
> structure:
>
> function (arg1, arg2) {
> while (condition) {
> do_stuff();
> }
> }
The above is how I write. It takes fewer lines, which is important
when you are trying to put everything in one function into a screen full.
It was also how PL/1 programmers use to write, because ,in PL/1, the
equivalent of the open brace is often a "DO", as in "IF a=b THEN DO;"
> conformance to an arbitrary standard is a sign of common mindset,
> which results in an effect called 'syntony'. that's a precursor to
> friendship, and is also crucial in gelling a team. whatever other
> differences there are among the players, there's a home base of
> commonality.
Yes, a demonstration of respect and willingness to partake in the
common effort.
> if you want to buck the system, you have to be able to replace the
> artifacts it supports by deafult with others which fit a larger
> cultural pattern. that's how i can get away with dressing like a
> street person in an otherwise corporate environment. my entire
> wardrobe costs less than anyone else's tie, but i carry a Palm III
> which i can synch to my laptop through the IR port. anyone who wants
> to challenge me on clothes has to be able to beat me on techno-toys
> first. next on the buy list is a Nokia PDA-phone, which can also be
> synched to a Palm, if you know how.
"Get away"... But what is the opportunity cost of that "getting away"?
For me, the suit and tie speaks for me, letting me keep my mouth shut when
I need not ask, and letting me gently ask the fool's questions without
reproach. And that is what gets me to the core of the problem; whereas
others skirt the real questions, and so build edifices upon edifices where
a short sweep and INEXPENSIVE chunk of code can clear up the main problem.
Or where "The Problem" everyone is taking their pickaxes to is the mere
result of something else far easier to rectify.
> i also get a certain amount of grace because i'm not a businessman,
> i'm a programmer. my life tends to be easier if i fall into the
> archetype of the 'hired gun' rather than trying to pass as another
> 'wealthy land-owner'. land-owners want their paid assasins to *look*
> like paid assasins, so a certain difference of appearance is expected,
> and accepted.
Um... I suppose where they want a hired gun type solution... which
usually means the lower echelons, and as of late, they have to grovel
before a lot more people to get approval to hire the gun. And some seem
to have an innate fear that the gun might be misused against them
afterwards...
> my own look happens to be based on the neo-tribal tech genre.. all
> black clothing, ponytail, combat boots, habitually unshaved.. the only
I think black comes from working on the old CRT's, where white shirts
often resulted in some glare.
> thing keeping me from having one side of my face tattooed is the fact
> that it would keep me from donating platelets for about a year. it's
> just as thoroughly considered as the cut and color of a corporate
> lawyer's trial suit, though. only the details have changed.
With a get up like that... if your reputation and work didn't precede
you...
Fear may be a form of power. But so is the sense of friendship, even
kinship others feel towards those who are seen as members of the club,
and willing to help others. A good image and a smile will transcend even
the barriers of language.
-J- (C) 1998, [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----------- http://www.mall-net.com/javilk
--- Laugh at yourself, Our Creator loves company -- and You! ---------------
--- After all, we wouldn't want our Creator to cancel the show, would we? --
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