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| Optimism (github.com) | ||
| recommended by 1 user | 2016 | 617 points by chair6 | life advice | original thread | | ||
| One user recommended this thread. What they said: |
| dahart Nov 5, 2016 | on: Be careful about what you dislike | context |
| Also recommended by people who recommended this: | ||
| 1. | “Don't complain that Chinese is ugly and unreadable just because you speak English as your native tongue.” (comment) | |
| recommended by 1 user | 2017 | arcfide on: Smaller Code, Better Code | original thread | | ||
I had never heard of E-Prime, but this reminded me of Reginald Braithwaite's presentation "Optimism" [1].
He advocates becoming aware of when people use temporary or permanent language, and suggests using temporary language for criticizing other people and permanent language for praising people. This is a brilliant bit of human psychology that is highly practical in everyday situations.
I don't know whether E-Prime is practical, it seems problematic to try to police the language itself, but the goals & rationale have a good heart. We probably would be better off if we could all speak less dogmatically and hyperbolically.
I do recall someone here on HN mentioning attempts to create a new language in which one could not lie, I wonder if E-prime was what was being referred to...