--
On Wed, 4 Nov 1998 00:09:21 Steven J. Owens wrote:
>Javilk writes:
>
>> Amongst some people. Others... Why should I have a pager? Call me
>> before the crisis, and it won't happen.
>
> "Because it looks cool". Not that this is a particular concern
>of mine, but that's the reasoning he's referring to. Frankly, the
>gadget on *my* wish-list is a milspec SparcBook from Tadpole
>(www.tadpol.com....). Hm, looks like they merged with RDI and are no
>longer offering the "ruggedized" military version. I may yet build
>one myself; something in me is just fascinated with the idea of a
>bulletproof laptop :-).
>
>> > 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.
>
> There are different advantages to each style; if there were a
>clearcut winner there'd be no holy wars over it :-). One language
>designer, Guido Van Rossum, creator of Python, went so far as to make
>indentation part of the language syntax. This freaks out some people,
>but really every language uses whitespace as part of the syntax (if
>only to separate tokens from each other), so the question isn't
>whether or not to use white space, but how.
>
>> > 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.
>
> Also important but a separate issue. The message you send by your
>choice in apparel and behavior is something you need to think about, but
>the issue of common ground to unite a team is a separate one.
>
>> "Get away"... But what is the opportunity cost of that "getting away"?
>
> Depends on the circumstances. In some environments, wearing
>T-shirt and jeans and tennis shoes will get you farther than wearing a
>suit - it's something in the nature of a bluff, though it's not really
>a bluff:
>
> If you're good enough to back it up, it establishes a certain
>amount of respect and freedom (both personal and organizational) for
>you.
>
> Demonstrating conformance can buy you a certain amount of
>cooperation, but it also implicitly commits you to buying into the
>existing organizational power structure.
>
> Each has its advantages.
>
>> For me, the suit and tie speaks for me, letting me keep my mouth shut when
>
> It is gratifyingly amazing how your mode of dress influences
>certain echelons - law enforcement and security personnel being two of
>them. It sucks, but it's life; they're in a stressful and risk-ridden
>environment and they tend to grasp at the most immediate clues to
>determine the safest (for them) course of behavior.
>
>> > 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...
>
> See above about establishing your location either outside of or
>inside of the power structure. A hired gun has the advantage that he
>doesn't have to worry about the status quo as much. He's expected to
>step on people's toes in the pursuit of getting the job done, and
>he'll go away after he does so. Sometimes this works for you; other
>times the political winds shift and the project gets reorganized and
>you go out the door because you stepped on the wrong toes.
>
>> > 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.
>
> Black comes from youth underground culture, which comes from
>areas like the gothic movement (which comes from the 17th or 18th, I
>forget which, resurgence in interest in gothic literature and "all
>things Scottish"), the techno/industrial movement, and in general from
>the misguided romanticism that "black" as a color has. On the other hand,
>many of my favorite garments are black because it's hard to go wrong
>with basic black... I just have to watch out I don't accidentally end
>up dressed all in black and get mistaken for a goth! :-)
>
>> With a get up like that... if your reputation and work didn't
>> precede you...
>
> Yeah, but a get-up like that can create a reputation, or more to
>the point an aura. It's all about psychology...
>
>> 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.
>
> But not barriers of culture. In some cultures, a smile can be a
>grievous insult (for example, a smile that shows your teeth is an
>insult in japan). Your point is valid however; I've seen more than
>one expert get shot down in flames because they antagonized and
>alienated the people they were working with. It's a tricky line to
>walk.
>
>Steven J. Owens
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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