[gmx-developers] FW: Gromacs quotes

[ms]

FWIW, I think no self censorship is in order, at all, and I'd be 
seriously disappointed if these suggestions are accepted.

Quotes can be disabled by an environment variable, so it's not like 
they're forced down people's throat. If people *still* get offended at 
the quotes, they are welcome to use some other software. Self censorship 
is the worst kind of censorship, and everytime we abide to 
"sensitivity", we are disintegrating the right for freedom of speech. 
Everything is potentially offensive for someone. Given this logic, one 
day will we stop using evolutionary algorithms, for example, to avoid 
offending creationists? This may seem silly, but I'm sure it could happen.

Since we talk of quotes, here's one by John Stuart Mill:

"Strange it is that men should admit the validity of the arguments for 
free speech but object to their being "pushed to an extreme", not seeing 
that unless the reasons are good for an extreme case, they are not good 
for any case."



On 14/12/12 21:55, Shirts, Michael (mrs5pt) wrote:
> FYI, from my student.  We also have to turn these off in F at H to avoid
> complaints.
>
> Might it be time to retire the quotes? Do we feel it has that much of a
> purpose?  I wonder if it's causing more trouble than it's worth . . .
>
> Best,
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Michael Shirts
> Assistant Professor
> Department of Chemical Engineering
> University of Virginia
> michael.shirts at virginia.edu
> (434)-243-1821
>
> ------ Forwarded Message
>> From: Joe Basconi <jbasconi at gmail.com>
>> Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:52:04 -0500
>> To: <michael.shirts at virginia.edu>
>> Subject: Gromacs quotes
>>
>> Prof. Shirts,
>>
>> Just wondering, what's the control process for the little gcq quotes
>> Gromacs prints when you run a binary?
>>
>> Most are amusing but some seem to be in poor taste, especially on a day
>> like today getting #239, "killing children... " by some software company.
>>
>> Not sure how these are chosen, but would you feel comfortable putting in a
>> word to get things like that out of there? I could email if that would be
>> better.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Joe
>
> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>


-- 
Massimo Sandal, Ph.D.
http://devicerandom.org