[OT] Pettiness (Was: Re: [thelist] Which email app delated the shuttle?)

On 99/12/23 16:29, Aylard James J at jaylard@equilon.com wrote:

> But it seems Microsoft-related topics conjure knee-jerk dark karma,
> where intelligent discussion is replaced by knowing grunts and hand motions.

James, 

You're absolutely right. Every once and a while I lose my composure and dig
through my vast archive of signatures and pull that one out. I've never
meant much harm, but it is unprofessional nonetheless.

Touché.  From now on all the grunts will be reserved to the back-room that
is my mind. And maybe pulled out for a few select friends.

> The mentality kinda reminds me of the truck decal of an evil-looking Calvin
> performing a bodily function on a competing truck-maker's logo.

On a side note, I have always been disgusted by the Calvin-urination truck
stickers. Bill Watterson was never partial to selling his cartoon characters
and *never* drew Calvin urinating, let alone released it for the market. His
talent for cartooning was unmatched and it was a sad day when he retired
from drawing Calvin.

I would hate to be associated with such tasteless humour and so I will never
bash Microsoft on this list again. I promise.

> The Microsoft pettiness just seems a bit out of place,
> at least to someone out of sync like me. :)

It sure is, but sometimes I think Linux configurations are out of place.
Who am I to judge? :-)  In case you're wondering, I am a Mac user, but I
happen to use Microsoft software on my machine everyday and don't have many
complaints about it.

So now, without further a due (sp?) I owe a tip:

<tip type="Useability">
Do yourself a favour. Every once and a while do some research about your
users. 

1. Go to a friends house and surf the Web using a 56K modem and remember
that not everyone has a connection speed that "fast."

2. Ask your Mom or Dad to use your Web pages.  Can they do it? Or do you
have to show them where to click.

3. Drop your resolution to 640x480 and get rid of everything but 256
colours.  Does your site still kick butt?

Think carefully about who the site is for. You or the user?
</tip>