use Perl

• Sorta (Score:2)

  by pudge (1)

  That's sorta true, but it's also true that we can measure such things, but the problem is that each of us use different measurements. Yes, of course BBEdit is the best text editor for programming on a Mac. But the nature of that sentence is inherently subjective. According to my measurements, which no one else shares, it is the best text editor.
  • Re:Sorta (Score:1)

    by tmtm (2563)

    When most people say that "X is the best Y for Z" they're usually giving an opinion not a measurement.
    
    Very few people, other than in jest, can assign a number of any type to these statements.
    
    "Well, I'll give vi a 6, emacs an 8, but vim definitely gets a 9.3"
    • Re:Sorta (Score:2)

      by pudge (1)

      Ability or willingness to assign numbers is not the only measure of "measurements." My car is bigger than my bike, but I have no idea by how much. Similarly, BBEdit is better than vi. Sure, I *could* get numerical measurements of the car and bike, but there's no need to.
      • Re:Sorta (Score:1)

        by tmtm (2563)

        You may not know by how much your car is bigger, but the point is that it's relatively easy to calculate, and get objective numbers that everyone can agree with. Without that it's not measurement, it's just comparison. Numbers are the entire point of measurement.
        • Re:Sorta (Score:2)

          by pudge (1) on 2003.09.04 15:49 (#23870) Homepage Journal

          Numbers are the entire point of measurement.
          
          No, they aren't. It is ONE of the METHODS of measurement. There is no one point of measurement, except maybe the generic point of "comparison."
          
          Ever hear of a "measure of someone's worth"? We measure things like "worth" that all the time, but certainly without numbers.

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