If you're going to hate over that, then I'm glad not to know you. I was taught to double space in typing class many years ago. I do it by habit now. I prefer the way it looks. In fact if you look at the source to any comment I make, you'll find that I do it by habit DESPITE the fact that I know that in many mediums it is going to get lost.
I've noticed many writers that I respect doing the same thing. I'd include patio11 as an example.
The fact that WordPress does the wrong thing with it is a bug in WordPress. The fact that you would hate the way that many good writers like to type, and like to see their words written, is a bug in your brain.
We both have preferences. Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit on mine (it's never put me off from reading anybody, including Patrick), but this... really?
>If you're going to hate over that, then I'm glad not to know you...The fact that you would hate the way that many good writers like to type, and like to see their words written, is a bug in your brain.
If you hate over a preference for double spaces after periods, then I don't want to know you. Because what else would you hate over? I don't want to even think about the possibilities of facing stupid landmines like that.
If you don't hate and merely have a preference, well, that's different. But hate means something specific to me.
As much as I agree btilly might have crossed a line, “hating an idea” would be considered a fatal flaw by many, including myself, depending on the social context and idea itself. Maybe “disapproval” would be a better word in this situation; “hatred” has too much emotional and social baggage that its use even in hyperbole may have to go away if we can ever hope to regain any notion of sensible discussion.
The rules say not to say anything you wouldn't say in person. And if you'd say something like that in person, you might want to think about what kind of person that makes you.
And all btilly said was "If [trivial aesthetic concerns cause you to experience hate], I don't want to know you."
I think that's an entirely defensible position. And without knowing btilly, or having myself said this particular thing, I can easily imagine myself saying things like that in person, in some circumstances, and it's a point of personal pride.
To reply to some of the other comment threads, without spawning many sub-comments, I note that "I don't want to know you" is not the same sentence as "I think you should be murdered", or something. Experiencing hatred for aesthetics may or may not be a fatal character flaw, but that's completely irrelevant.
I find it interesting that the criticisms of his statement all leave out the rationalizations that immediately follow it. I view that as important context.
Were does he say he hates the people doing it? Nowhere. He merely says "I hate double spacing".
You seem to be making assumptions about his reasoning. I think it was fairly clear when he said "Because what else would you hate over? I don't want to even think about the possibilities of facing stupid landmines like that."
If you are gonna judge people by what typographic conventions they hate and "don't wanna know them", then I don't wanna know you.
He's judging the top comment based on their statement of how they judge. I think that's fair.
Keep in mind, someone stating they don't want to know (associate, have as a friend or acquaintance, etc) you isn't necessarily an insult in the common sense. When backed up by reasoning based on evidence, it's not asserting anything not already known about that you. Any insult is based on respect you must have for that person (whether specific or general to the any person). When on the receiving end of this statement, it's up to you to determine whether you care what that person thinks, and if so, whether your behavior need examination.
> In fact if you look at the source to any comment I make, you'll find that I do it by habit DESPITE the fact that I know that in many mediums it is going to get lost.
I've noticed many writers that I respect doing the same thing. I'd include patio11 as an example.
The fact that WordPress does the wrong thing with it is a bug in WordPress. The fact that you would hate the way that many good writers like to type, and like to see their words written, is a bug in your brain.