[MUD-Dev] OT: Usability and interface

[Jon A. Lambert]

On 23 Sep 97 at 8:51, Adam Wiggins wrote:
[JL wrote]
> > 
> > I strongly disagree with both of these views. There's a point where 
> > playing the other side of issue becomes both an irritant and wholly 
> > unproductive.  It may lead one down a convulated avenue of reasoning 
> > that "common sense" dictated you shouldn't explore in the first 
> > place.  This could be especially damaging if you are new to a given 
> > area and find yourself agreeing with the one playing a particularly 
> > devious devil's advocate.  This could be a source of misinformation, 
> > embarassment or even ill-feeling if one is led logically step-by-step 
> > into an indefensible position or unproductive design decision.  It's 
> > also a waste of list members' time to lead them into reading a 
> > particularly engaging argument that the poster merely meant as an 
> > illustration of a dumb position or satirization a valid position.   
> 
> Yes, there is 'a point'.  This is an extreme, though. 

This post was intended as satire of itself. ;)

I was merely playing devil's advocate to the pro devil's advocacy 
argument. 

I thought it was funny. Now I'm not so sure after rereading 
it since I made some hard-hitting points. 

StartLoop. 
  say PLUGH!    
  It's real dark in here.	
  You have been eaten by a Grue.
EndLoop.

--
Jon A. Lambert

If I'd known it was harmless, I would have killed it myself.