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Old September 29th, 2005, 01:51 PM
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BruceM wrote:
A crude analogy (I assume you meant "analogy").


Note 'Analog' (alternatively spelling 'analogue') is the root of
'analogy', however other typos suggest you are correct.

"Arrogant newbie", huh? That's pretty contemptuous.


Sure is The quote /quote thing was supposed to be plaintext
i.e. to tell you I was quoting someone else. Sorry if the point was
lost but those words are not my own (excuse me while I adopt a 'How
dare you' faux-offended pose g).

Have you caught on that experienced and thoughtful people disagree with you?


Have you caught on that, because I have a 'broad' understanding of the
issue, I can debate the 'autonumber makes a fine PK' from both sides of
the fence? This is a good learning technique (devil's advocate) and
ensures you don't hold irrational biases. Well informed biases are a
different matter and something I have respect for. So allow me to take
exception to this of yours:

You yourself disparage the education and experience of others when it runs
contrary to your preferences.


Show me where I have disparaged 'education and experience' for holding
an informed opinion contrary to mine and I'll issue an overdue apology.
(You know I'm really not Joe Celko, don't you g?)

Did you ever try to test a 'point of view' to see if it would stand up?
This is the basis of scientific testing (Popper's falsification): you
don't test your hypothesis ('All swans are white') directly; rather you
test your null hypothesis ('Some swans are not white') and if the null
hypothesis can be proven then you must reject your hypothesis.

I think that Amy cannot yet put up an effective case for 'This House
believes autonumber don't make great PKs', because see can't see it
from 'my' side, and therefore is in danger of holding an irrational
bias. Reminds me of another star of the philosophy of science, Kuhn's
paradigm shifts:

(Quote) Revolutions are to be sought on Popper's view also, but not
because they add to positive knowledge of the truth of theories but
because they add to the negative knowledge that the relevant theories
are false. Kuhn rejected both the traditional and Popperian views in
this regard. He claims that normal science can succeed in making
progress only if there is a strong commitment by the relevant
scientific community to their shared theoretical beliefs, values,
instruments and techniques, and even metaphysics.
(Unquote)
[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/]

My take on Kuhn: it would take a revolution to wean exponents from
their 'autonumber as PK' habit because people like Amy have their own
agendas (e.g. to fit into the MVP crowd) and 'don't care' about
advancement for the common good.

BTW I don't mean to be harsh on Amy; I admire her for being honest and
vocal where many fall silent. And there's nothing wrong with wanting to
be an MVP, just don't lose your voice ;-)

And BruceM, you are the most fun person round these parts. You listen
with an open mind, you respond and you have a voice. Big respect to
you, too.