linux.conf.au/debiancon: January 2003
Recent EMail Thread: Linux Kernel Mailing List

From: Rusty Russell <rusty@rustcorp.com.au>
To: "Mark H. Wood" <mwood@IUPUI.Edu>
Cc: Bill Davidsen <davidsen@tmr.com>

In message <Pine.LNX.4.33.0211090711180.3927-100000@mhw.ULib.IUPUI.Edu> you write:
> On Fri, 8 Nov 2002, Bill Davidsen wrote:
> > eschew = roughly "avoid" or "stay away from"
> Or "choose not to use".  One does not say, "eschew that bear."
> > obfuscation = the process of making something obscure
> 
> And the whole thing ("eschew obfuscation") is a stock expression in
> English, meaning "don't use unfamiliar words when familiar words will
> express what you mean."

Thankyou both for your explanations.

Back on topic, I think Bill brought up a good point: someone willing
to criticize nontrivial uses of English in the kernel would fill a
much-needed void in Linux.

Bill, would you be prepared for such a role?  I think we'd be lucky to
have either of you contribute patches.

Cheers!
Rusty.
--
  Anyone who quotes me in their sig is an idiot. -- Rusty Russell.