Re: [PATCH] Module loader against 2.5.46: 8/9

Bill Davidsen (davidsen@tmr.com)
Wed, 6 Nov 2002 11:45:12 -0500 (EST)


On Tue, 5 Nov 2002, Rusty Russell wrote:

> In message <20021105001905.D1407@almesberger.net> you write:
> > [ Cc: trimmed ]
> >
> > Rusty Russell wrote:
> > > +config OBSOLETE_MODPARM
> > > + bool
> > > + default y
> > > + help
> > > + Without this option you will not be able to use module parameters on
> > > + modules which have not been converted to the new module parameter
> > > + system yet. If unsure, say Y.
> >
> > Triple negation, cool :-) How about something like
> >
> > You need this option to use module parameters on
> > modules which have not been converted to the new module parameter
> > system yet. If unsure, say Y.
> >
>
> No. I don't think that my original version wasn't clear, nor do I
> have time to negate every suggestion, no matter how well meaning or
> not, even if I had no better things to do, which does not seem likely,
> does it not?

Please don't take this personally, but you just used another double
negative in your response. Now you may think that way, and talk that way,
but a lot of people who use Linux are not native speakers of English, and
from experience I suggest that the complex gramatical constructs in all
the help stuff should be avoided. Eschew obfuscation.

> Point taken (although note that this option is never prompted for).

Then why have help at all? In fact why have the whole option if it can't
be used? I assume you meant something else entirely, other than "can't be
used."

-- 
bill davidsen <davidsen@tmr.com>
  CTO, TMR Associates, Inc
Doing interesting things with little computers since 1979.

- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/