NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #1/NN_1993_1.iso/spool/comp/os/os2/advocacy/11803

Text File | 1993-01-06 | 3.7 KB | 69 lines

Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.advocacy
Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!news.cs.indiana.edu!noose.ecn.purdue.edu!ecn.purdue.edu!helz
From: [e-mail] (Randall A Helzerman)
Subject: Re: Is Microsoft using "Force"???
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (USENET news)
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <wiegand.726333920@lido16> <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 04:24:06 GMT
Lines: 57

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (JAMES DORCEY) writes:
|> In article <wiegand.726333920@lido16>, motcid![e-mail] writes...
|> >[e-mail] (Randall A Helzerman) writes:
|> >
|> >>    COERCE suggests overcoming resistance or unwillingness by actual
|> >>    or threatened violence or pressure.
|>                                ^^^^^^^^^^^
|> >>In order for an action to properly be called "coercion" there MUST be the
|> >>threat of or actional violence, of the which and by the way so there may be
|> >>no confusion on this point here is the definition of violence:
|>
|> >Why don't you read your own definition. Violence is not required.
|> >The word "or" is usually used to indicate a choice of two things.
|> >Only one need to be true for the statement to be true.
|>
|> Well let's see, so far this week Randall has shown that he doesn't
|> understand "Just-In-Time" and that he can't read his own definition.  And
|> today's only Wednesday :-)

Haw haw haw.  This is the third post accusing me of not understanding
the meaning of the word "pressure" so I suppose the only thing to do is
give another English lesson.  *sigh*  Definition of pressure:

1. press.ure \'presh-*r\ n 1a: the burden of physical or mental distress
   1b: the constraint of circumstance 2: the application of force to something
   by something else in direct contact with it : COMPRESSION archaic  3:
   IMPRESSION, STAMP 4a: the action of a force against an opposing force 4b:
   the force or thrust exerted over a surface divided by its area 4c:
   ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE 5: the stress or urgency of matters demanding attention
   : EXIGENCY 6: a factor that tends to reduce a wild animal population esp.
   when arising from human activity 7: atmospheric pressure 8: a sensation
   aroused by moderate compression of a body part or surface

Every meaning of the word which is relevent to the definition of "Coerce"
above explicitly indicates physical force being used except for 1b: which
implicily indicates it.  Here is the definition of constrain snarfed directly
by mouse from the unix command webster:

Cross references:
  1. force

con.strain \k*n-'stra-n\ \-'stra--n*d-le-, -'stra-n-dle-\ vt [ME
   constrainen, fr. MF constraindre, fr. L constringere to c]onstrict,
   constrain, fr. com- + stringere to draw tight - more at STRAIN 1: COMPEL 2:
   to force or produce in an unnatural or strained manner {a ~ed smile} 3: to
   secure by or as if by bond : CONFINE 4: to bring into narrow compass; also
   : to clasp tightly 5: to hold back by force; - con.strained.ly av

Dudes, I shouldn't have to do this for you; you've all got dictionaries.
Before you accuse someone of overlooking something perhaps you'd better
look into it yourselves.

Every path you take through the dictionary which starts with "coerce" ends
with "force"--not a metaphoric "force" but real, tangible, physical force
that could hurt your body.  If there's no threat or presence of physical
violence, there's no coercion.