On... "How To Have A Reasoned Technical Discussion"

[Christopher Browne]

We suffer from this fairly frequently; here's a different (but
interesting) set of guidance that seems worth mentioning.

http://al3x.net/2009/04/04/reasoned-technical-discussion.html#

I like the list of questions to ask before hitting "send."  The bulk
of some of the discussions that have taken place lately wouldn't have
been sent if the participants had taken questions like these ones
seriously.

Voila, "a brief reintroduction to logical thought and civil society,"
due to Alex Payne...

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The next time you’re thinking about engaging in a technical
discussion, run through these questions before you hit the “post”
button:

   1. Are you responding to facts? With facts?
   2. Have you read any primary source materials on the issue you’re discussing?
   3. Do you have any first-hand experience with the technologies or
ideas involved?
   4. Do you have any first-hand experience with those technologies
operating at the scale being discussed?
   5. Have you contacted the individuals involved in the discussion
for further information before making assumptions about their
findings?
   6. Are you falsely comparing technologies or ideas as if there was
a zero-sum competition between them?
   7. Are you addressing your peers with respect, courtesy, and humility?
   8. Are you sure that what you’re posting is the best way to promote
your self, product, project, or idea? Does it demonstrate you at your
best?

Et cetera, et cetera. Or, essentially, a brief reintroduction to
logical thought and civil society.
----------------------------------------------------------------------


-- 
http://linuxfinances.info/info/linuxdistributions.html
--
The Toronto Linux Users Group.      Meetings: http://gtalug.org/
TLUG requests: Linux topics, No HTML, wrap text below 80 columns
How to UNSUBSCRIBE: http://gtalug.org/wiki/Mailing_lists