discuss: LDP Style discussion (cont.)
Subject:
Re: LDP Style discussion (cont.)
From:
"John R. Daily" ####@####.####
Date:
9 Apr 2002 19:33:23 -0000
Message-Id: <200204091933.g39JXMR07547@clmboh1-smtp3.columbus.rr.com>
At (time_t)1018378887 Randy Kramer wrote:
> M. Leo Cooper wrote:
> > " * Avoid Humor 2 "
> > I guess that leaves my documents out...
>
> I've learned (am learning?) that humor is often more fun for the writer
> than the reader, especially if readers include non-native speakers of
> the language.
There are technical books where the humor is a real value-add;
"Expert C Programming: Deep C Secrets" by Peter van der Linden is
is a prime example of this.
I'd concur with Randy, however, that those should be the
exception rather than the rule. Humor is difficult to do well,
and even if done well it is as likely to confuse as to clarify.
Anyone who has struggled through a Babelfish translation should
appreciate how unwelcome facetious text would be to someone
trying to glean the real meaning from a translation.
-John
