[FRIAM] sometimes an onion is just an onion...

[glen ☣]

On 06/15/2017 06:38 AM, Nick Thompson wrote:
> It is a writer's job to control the reference of his signs, in so far as s/he can.


I disagree completely with the ultimate consequences of what you're saying.  There is a philosophy in many branches of engineering to do exactly that: to engineer a device so that it optimally fits it's intended user/usage.  And that's all dandy.  However, art (for example) is not engineering.  Poetry is not engineering.  Math is not engineering.  Science is not engineering.  If we _always_ and forever try to clamp down on a creator's creative act in the way you intend, we'd either die an order death or explode into chaos.

It is a writer's job, except when it's not.  My guess is that it's the writer's job to balance and judge the amount of control to attempt.


> In writing code, you guys wouldn't put out a line of code without making clear what language you were writing in, would you?  


Yes, absolutely!  In fact, the ability to program without specifying which language you're using is the holy grail of programming.


-- 
☣ glen