Things to say when you are losing a technical argument

Saturday 29 January 2005 — This is almost 20 years old. Be careful.

Part of my continuing effort to help facilitate clear communication among engineers: Things to say when you’re losing a technical argument:

10. I had one of the interns try that approach for another project, and it scrambled the CEO’s hard drive. So I think it’s going to be a hard sell.

59. Look, would you just get off your Be obsession for FIVE MINUTES and talk serious design with us?

Comments

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Fredrik 10:25 AM on 29 Jan 2005
Let's see, ..., ah yes. Number 47 is there. Number 71 seems to be missing, though.
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Dennis Doughty 4:01 PM on 29 Jan 2005
What? I don't speak your crazy moon-language.
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jake 6:21 PM on 29 Jan 2005
My all time favorite thing to say when losing _ANY_ argument is: "That's sounds suspiciously like something Hitler would have said..."

Got that from my cousin, don't remember where he got it from...
[gravatar]
Bob 8:37 PM on 30 Jan 2005
Jake,

That sounds like an application of Godwin's law: As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.

Read the linked Wikipedia article. Fascinating stuff.

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