Re: technology discussion → does the world need a "new" C ?

Bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:

On 17/08/2024 15:41, Tim Rentsch wrote:
>

Bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
>

OK.  So why do you agree with this:
>

                            C call-by-value         call-by-reference
                            ===============         =================
        (pointer argument)  F(p)                    (disallowed)

>
What is 'pointer argument' here?

>
Try thinking harder.  Everyone else understood.

>
I could equally say that everyone understood what was meant by
implicit cast'.

It would be a useful exercise for you to compare and contrast
those two statements, listing their similarities and differences.

But here you really have to explain what you mean by a pointer
argument, since there is no reason why such a type can't be passed
by reference.
>
Lacking such an explanation, I'd have to say still that
'disallowed' is generally incorrect.

What is incorrect is your understanding of what was meant.

Let me elaborate on that.  Some of the people who post here are
interested in listening, and usually make an effort to understand in
cases where a first reading leaves them confused.  Others, not so
much.  More generally, there is a spectrum of interest/effort, with
people who make a large effort at one end, and people who make
little or not effort at the other end.

Somewhat paradoxically, it is the people who are most intent on
listening who are the ones most worth listening to.  Conversely,
people who don't make much of an effort to listen and understand
are usually not worth listening to.

You are definitely closer to the no effort end of the spectrum than
you are to the other end.  You are much more focused on what you
want to say than you are in what the other person is saying.
That's a lot of the reason people dismiss your comments.  It also
reduces the chance that you will get useful responses.  Your first
response up above is a case in point.  It's typical of you.  Given
this entirely predictable reaction, I have very little incentive to
try to explain anything, because I don't think you're going to hear
the explanation.

I don't expect any of the above to change the way you act, but just
in case, here is a suggestion.  When you read something that seems
not to make sense, ask yourself a question:  What might have been
meant here so that this statement is right?  If you don't look for
alternative interpretations you won't ever find any.  On the flip
side, the more often you look for alternative interpretations and
the more effort you put into doing so, the more likely you are to
have meaningful interactions with other people in the group, unlike
the meaningless interactions you usually have.