Re: the zen of SIGPIPE

[Alan Barrett <apb%cequrux.com@localhost>]

On Mon, 07 Jan 2013, Mouse wrote:
> > > Now consider the inexcusable example of xargs(1).
> > I stopped reading as soon as I saw that text.
>
> > If you want to argue that it's wrong, then make an argument that does
> > not assume the conclusion that you want to reach.
>
> If you wish to censure jklowden for question-begging, you probably
> should first read the argument to make sure that is actually what's
> going on.

OK, I read the whole message.  The argument that xargs is wrong does not
actually depend on the assumption that xargs has inexcusable behaviour,
so it's not really begging the question.  Nevertheless, stating that the
behaviour is inexcusable before arguing that it's even wrong puts this
reader in a frame of mind that makes him unreceptive to the argument.

--apb (Alan Barrett)