Of course there's a place for documents which attempt to make the world a better place. I'm not arguing against the genre, I'm arguing against ineffective application of the genre.
If I can try to make clearer what I find dissatisfying about the set of documents I mention:
- They rely very strongly on vague concepts and warm sentiments without being specific as to either problems, goals, or solutions.[1]
- There's little by way of empirical support for the models or methods suggested. There's a lot of ought and not much is.
- Overreliance on an appeal to emotion or sentiment.
- Their track record at achieving what vague goals they have specified is ... slim.
Again, the contrast I suggest is the GNU Manifesto which, quite arguably, singlehandedly overturned the entire software industry.
I'll also note that "Cluetrain" and JPB's "Manifesto" both strongly reflect the personalities of their authors. I've met Doc and John, and in person they're well-intentioned charismatic people. But in providing a foundation for a technologically-grounded cultural and political movement ... less effective than they could have been.
If I can try to make clearer what I find dissatisfying about the set of documents I mention:
- They rely very strongly on vague concepts and warm sentiments without being specific as to either problems, goals, or solutions.[1]
- There's little by way of empirical support for the models or methods suggested. There's a lot of ought and not much is.
- Overreliance on an appeal to emotion or sentiment.
- Their track record at achieving what vague goals they have specified is ... slim.
Again, the contrast I suggest is the GNU Manifesto which, quite arguably, singlehandedly overturned the entire software industry.
I'll also note that "Cluetrain" and JPB's "Manifesto" both strongly reflect the personalities of their authors. I've met Doc and John, and in person they're well-intentioned charismatic people. But in providing a foundation for a technologically-grounded cultural and political movement ... less effective than they could have been.
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Notes:
1. See my Hierarchy of Failures in Problem Resolution here: <https://web.archive.org/web/20230323113746/https://old.reddi...>, which I've mentioned numerous times on HN: <https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...>