Subject: Software tyranny

I know, I know. No computer nerd peeves to this group! But.

I want to deposit such a peeve with a qualifier that it is a mere
representative of a larger family of generic peeves: the "I know what you
need better than you know what you need" people!

Quote from the PC-NFS User's Guide, p.149:

  "Most UNIX hosts use the DEL key to indicate that the previous character
  should be erased. Since the PC keyboard places the <-- key in the position
  where users expect to find the delete functgion, PC-NFS software
  transposes the <-- and DEL keys. Pressing the <-- key transmits the delete
  code and the DEL key transmits the backspace code. To cancel this
  transposition, use the -y option described in the PC-NFS Reference
  Manual."

Grrr! Who the fuck authorizes some limp dicked programmer to start
transposing keys on MY keyboard, by DEFAULT no less?! Oh sure, the guy
left me an "out" - now I have to use the -y option everytime I invoke
telnet. Thank you very much, asshole, for "fixing" something that affects
virtually every goddam existing program I have used now for two years,
according to what you perceive "most" UNIX users want.

Little harm done, you say? Well, I ended up having to RTFM (all three of
them provided in the site documentation) to find out what was the problem
and fix it. 

So here, Mr. Wiseass programmer, let me fuck with you a little: 

  "Since "most" of the good people of France have decided it is best for 
  you, we have arranged to transpose the functions of the BRAKE and CLUTCH
  pedals on your Accord. 

  That is, stepping on the BRAKE will disengage the CLUTCH, while stepping
  on the CLUTCH will disengage the BRAKE. To cancel this transposition,
  simply reselect the country western station on your radio EACH TIME you
  start up your vehicle."

Also, we are going to include this information somewhere in Chapter 11 of
your owner's manual. We'll let you discover the transposition yourself,
and read this entire manual before you find out how to "cancel" it.

The fucking gall and arrogance of such people never ceases to amaze me. 
They are the same bunch of sonsofbitches who decided for me that I
automatically "wanted" a 101-key instead of an 84-key keyboard.

L.
"Yeh, Buddy..            | larry@psl.nmsu.edu (Larry Cunningham)|  _~~_
 I've got your COMPUTER! | % Physical Science Laboratory        | (O)(-)
 Right HERE!!"           | New Mexico State University          |  /..\ 
 (computer THIS!)        | Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA 88003    |   <> 
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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are CORRECT, mine, and not PSLs or NMSUs..
Wonder if Sununu's fired now?
