Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Hugh rules

And Hugh is the top cartoonist.

Tale of two MacLeods

Hugh: Coincidence.

Good point

In Myth Number One, Richard Bennett responds to what Dana Blankenhorn's posted here, which I responded to here. Dana said,

The idea of absolute top-down control in any area — entertainment, business, technology, politics — is simply non-optimal. Technology has enabled us all to be participants, in any way we wish to be, as well as audience.

Richard gives a good example on behalf of a point that concludes,

In this as in many instances, absolute top-control is more optimal than absolute bottom-up chaos. And better than both is moderate top-down management, driven by a policy of the greatest good for the greatest number, or some similar rule.

As an example of engineering fact, it could well be that the best design for a network that permits all people to be performers is for the network’s tubes to be controlled top-down in the interest of fair access. Some at the edges are spammers, virus-makers, and other low-lifes. Can we always count on them to police their own behavior? I don’t think so, and neither do you.

Then Richard adds,

So why do so many grown men still repeat the most idiotic sayings of the scruffy hippies of the 60s?

Maybe because they're still scruffy hippies in their 60s. Which I'll be in... oh shit... less than thirteen months.

Adding,

It’s a great mystery to me.

It's also a mystery to me why Richard insists on characterization when correction will do.

His point is still a good one.

Bonus linkage: Xtreme Debunking of Recycled 60s New Age BS.