Re: Do other Python GUI toolkits require this?

On 2007-04-20, Steve Holden <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Antoon Pardon wrote:
On 2007-04-20, Steve Holden <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Antoon Pardon wrote:
On 2007-04-19, sjdevnull@xxxxxxxxx <sjdevnull@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Apr 19, 6:54 am, Antoon Pardon <apar...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I don't know how you come to the conclusion that it is a mathematical
absurdity but consider this: If you find that common usage propagates
something that is incorrect, should we just shrug it off or should we
attemp a correction?
a) In English, "learning curve" is not restricted to a mathematical
plot--Webster's also defines it as "the course of progress made in
learning something". In that context, adding the adjective steep
("extremely or excessively high...STEEP implies such sharpness of
pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult") makes sense.
How much sense does it really make? Suppose we would talk about
an income curve. Would you not prefer a steep curve over a shalow
one? What about a productivity curve? It is all about the progress
made in something.

So how much sense does it make that a steep curve in earnings and
productivity is good but a steep curve in learning is bad?

Just as much sense as that a motor car is great for driving around in
but bad for being run over by. Context is everything. Do *all* steep
curves have to be good or all bad? What the hell happened to common sense?

You are just grabbing for straws. Sure context is everything. But you
don't make a case that the context makes a difference here. Are you
suggesting progres in productivity is good but progres in learning is bad?

No, I'm suggesting that in the company of thousands of people, most of
whom agree that a "steep learning curve" means, in the face of all
logic, that something is difficult to learn, you stop banging your head
against the wall and trying to "prove" them "wrong" (presumably because
it's important to you to be "right").

Thousands of people can be wrong. Now I don't particularly want
to prove them wrong. But if instead of ignoring the remark as
I suggested, they start trying to prove they are right, I will
point out where their thinking is wrong.

As has been said already at least twice in this thread, language is
about communication. Human beings aren't always entirely rational no
matter how much we may individually strive for correctness, and
sometimes our only options are to either go with the flow or stand
valiantly, pissing into the wind.

But if a wrong idea is circulating and nobody ever tries to correct it,
people will continue with the wrong idea. All I did was make a simple
remark, that as I suggested anyone could ignore, but that would allow
those willing to learn, to further investigate.

But what a terrible thing that seems to be.

Just asserting how something can make a difference withouth arguing
how in the particular case it actucally makes a difference is just
a divertion tactic without real merrit.

In the face of a notion that all steep curves determining "progress made
in something" must be good I stand with my mouth agape. I am aware that
common usage does not concur with academic rigor, but in this particular
instance I'm with the common herd.

Well that notion is entirely yours. My notion was only that progres in
productivity, earnings and learning was good and thus that curves that
are to be prefered tend to be the same shape for those three subjects.

--
Antoon Pardon
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Do other Python GUI toolkits require this?
    ... Would you not prefer a steep curve over a shalow ... It is all about the progress ... productivity is good but a steep curve in learning is bad? ... I am aware that common usage does not concur with academic rigor, but in this particular instance I'm with the common herd. ...
    (comp.lang.python)
  • Re: Do other Python GUI toolkits require this?
    ... an income curve. ... Would you not prefer a steep curve over a shalow ... The purpose of language is to communicate. ... now means something in common usage, then that is its current ...
    (comp.lang.python)
  • Re: SP2 is a problem
    ... Sandman, you are right on the money, and as far as the wonderful "learning ... curve" goes, I am an IT professional & I cant figure this mess out! ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
  • Re: Do other Python GUI toolkits require this?
    ... Antoon Pardon wrote: ... If we are being pedantic about describing a curve that shows the ... If we are being pedantic about what a learning curve describes, ... graph of position vs time for an object; ...
    (comp.lang.python)
  • Re: What languages have huge standard libraries?
    ... >> Steep learning curve is good. ... >> is time and the y axis is knowledge. ...
    (comp.programming)
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