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Re: Show and 6.0

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg89495] Re: Show and 6.0
• From: AES <siegman at stanford.edu>
• Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:16:16 -0400 (EDT)
• Organization: Stanford University
• References: <g2ij15$rnk$1@smc.vnet.net> <g2lb77$946$1@smc.vnet.net>

I've just read the three most recent posts in this thread (as they 
appear in my newsreader anyway), and I'd suggest that what is most 
interesting about them is the very substantial _differences_ in 
interpretation and emphasis and viewpoint between these posts --- in 
fact, I think they fairly could be described as very considerable 
contradictions  --- especially between the posts by David Park and Bill 
Rowe.

And examining the Help for ";" shows how inadequate it is for resolving 
these differing viewpoints.

And all of this, by illustrating the potential for confusion that can 
arise at even this elementary level of Mathematica input syntax, and the 
differing impressions that users can form, emphasizes once again the 
need for clear and helpful and much better _user_ education and 
documentation (as contrasted to formal or reference documentation).

And, just to flog the horse once more, how poorly WRI has met this need.

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Re: Show and 6.0
    • From: Andrzej Kozlowski <akoz@mimuw.edu.pl>