2009/2/22 Charles Matthews charles.r.matthews@ntlworld.com:
Thomas Dalton wrote:
Sure, like I said, there will be cases where it is appropriate. I think those cases are quite rare, though.
While it is fashionable, seemingly, to look at these small "issues" separately, as if they can be treated as isolated cases where hard-edged rules apply, I think this is the wrong approach. And I don't think it for the general good to dismiss exceptions. Anyone who formulates a general "rule" is under the obligation to think through the exceptional cases, and I deprecate the business done the other way round, where the onus is put on thoughtful people to point out that clumsy rules can do harm.
But my "rule" was that people should think about it. That rule doesn't really have exceptions - thinking is always appropriate.