Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 23:28:24 -0400
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From: DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
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Subject: Re: DJGPP reserves wrong int size
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> Then please do so; but keep in mind that the most usable such response
> will invariably be a URL

True.  I guess we're used to the "common" user, who knows where Intel
keeps their online docs.  It's hard to know how much you need to tell
people; assume too little knowledge on their part and you could
inadvertently insult them.  You can always ask for more specific
information, which we'd be happy to provide, if you need it.

> >http://developer.intel.com/design/pentium4/manuals/index.htm
> 
> Oh.
> 
> Still, I doubt I can give these an intelligent query and get an
> intelligent answer rather than slog through them from cover to cover.
> (Maybe one day, with XML...)

True, but the topic was well discussed, and finding a specific topic
in those manuals shouldn't be too hard.  Intel is pretty good about
documenting their chips.

> >Correct.  All one can do if one doesn't agree to the "way things
> >happen" is either to refrain from responding, or to leave the group.
> 
> What, as in if they question the compiler's intelligence in
> rearranging that loop they wrote? Or as in peoples' behavior?

I meant in the general way that we deal with questions and answers.
If you don't agree with the technical aspects of the software, you
probably *do* belong here :-)

> I rather suspect that every newsgroup with regulars has some
> regulars with nuclear tempers and a button somewhere that
> occasionally gets pushed. If it's also unmoderated, and there are 2
> or more nuclear tempers...

True, but that's the price you pay for easy access.  And DJGPP's
regulars are pretty mild tempered.  Most of our flame wars start with
cross-posts, so you get combinations of people used to different
"rules of conduct" and that's when the worst personality conflicts
happen.

> >We don't `require' English.  People often post in other languages, and
> >get responses in that language.
> 
> Not too surprising. The English language posts obviously will get more
> results, though.

Surprisingly, for DJGPP that's not really true.  Many of the regulars
are from countries whose native language isn't English, and we've got
enough coverage for most languages.  Perhaps English gets a larger
*volume* of responses, but the other languages are just as likely to
get useful answers.