From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: "Thomas S. Dye" Subject: Re: Re: org-mode tutorial questionaire Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:04:30 -1000 Message-ID: References: <87bpeesu45.fsf@fastmail.fm> <99A2E2E8-6334-4148-9E65-CDCE2B99EF3F@gmail.com> <20100323205009.GA14337@taupan.ath.cx> Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v936) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed; delsp=yes Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Return-path: Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1NuCDI-0000Bw-NG for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:04:40 -0400 Received: from [140.186.70.92] (port=54481 helo=eggs.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1NuCDH-0000Ak-0h for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:04:40 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1NuCDE-0006Nw-93 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:04:38 -0400 Received: from outbound-mail-359.bluehost.com ([66.147.249.253]:40906) by eggs.gnu.org with smtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1NuCDE-0006ND-16 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:04:36 -0400 In-Reply-To: <20100323205009.GA14337@taupan.ath.cx> List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: friedel@nomaden.org Cc: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org On Mar 23, 2010, at 10:50 AM, Friedrich Delgado Friedrichs wrote: > Hi > > Alexander Poslavsky schrieb: >>> I was wondering if you could elaborate on the following. Are you >>> suggesting that new users should never use M-x customize? >> Well, I don't know about anybody else, but I *never* use it. I =20 >> think it is awful. But then, what do I know=85. > ---Zitatende--- > > Maybe that's a bit opinionated for a tutorial then. I do use M-x > customize and I believe it has its merits. > > --=20 > Friedrich Delgado Friedrichs > TauPan on Ircnet and Freenode ;) > Aloha all, I think Alexander's manual is an excellent start and will be helpful =20 to newbies. To be successful, the manual will have to make many choices for the =20 newbie, among them whether or not to use customize. It will be very =20 different from the usual manual, which is designed to expose full =20 complexity. IMHO, the goal of describing a sensible path to productive use of Org-=20= mode should be the highest priority. When there is the urge to say to =20= the newbie, "you can do this or that", it should be avoided. Instead, =20= the template should be "do it this way." I agree with Friedrich that customize has merits (though I don't use =20 it). I like Alexander's vivid language, but agree with Friedrich that =20= it doesn't need to be so opinionated in this case. Perhaps the =20 template for these alternate paths might be a footnote "there is =20 [[another way][link]] to do this." All the best, Tom=