Re: Warning: Gibson's GENESIS is broken as published

From: Alun Jones (alun@texis.com)
Date: 03/11/02

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    From: alun@texis.com (Alun Jones)
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 15:40:10 GMT

    In article <u8pif9fatjkj24@corp.supernews.com>, "Sam Schinke"
    <blank@ggfgfdgfddgfgfdgfdfggfdgfdgsdfdgfgfdgdf.com> wrote:
    >But really, the proof is in the pudding, so I see most argument about this
    >as nonsensical until there is actual product available to test.

    Maybe, but then again, the key here is that Gibson's claiming something as
    novel and innovative, never-before-been-done, when the only example he's
    willing to give has not only been done before, but over a decade before, and
    in a standard tool that every network user, administrator, developer, etc,
    should be completely comfortable with. In case you're wondering, the example
    he's given was the same as a "ping -l 0" on Windows, or "ping -s 0" on Linux.
    Other versions of ping may use different parameters, but I've yet to see one
    that doesn't allow a data-less ping.

    >And I have seen "stealthed" used in other places. So long as it is explained
    >what is meant, I don't see much of a problem.

    The problem as I see it isn't that he's inventing new terms, it's that he's
    inventing new terms for old concepts that already have old terms, which makes
    it hard for anyone to argue the toss over his technology - it's all new,
    because he's given it a new name, and you have to figure out what it is from
    the lack of description of its behaviour that Gibson gives.

    How about this for an analogy:

    "I've invented this great new technology for transportation, called a
    frobnitz. When paired, and in concert with other machinery, a simple personal
    transport can be made. Add a wurfle (another invention of ours), and the
    personal transport can reach speeds never before achieved. Put four
    frobnitz's together with a wurfle, and you can transport up to five people in
    comfort, with luggage, and one day we anticipate providing eighteen-frobnitzer
    devices for cross-country haulage."

    When challenged that he's re-inventing the wheel, the inventor clams up. His
    groupies, however, armed only with that information, pop up and assert
    repeatedly that the frobnitz is not a wheel, and the wurfle is not an engine,
    and that once the inventor provides the world with a working prototype, we'll
    be able to see that. Meanwhile, the inventor is back at home, shaving the
    corners off to make his frobnitz roll.

    Alun.
    ~~~~

    [Note that answers to questions in newsgroups are not generally
    invitations to contact me personally for help in the future.] 

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