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Subject: Re: For Christophe Theron

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 21:39:20 11/05/99

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On November 02, 1999 at 15:04:13, Chris Duggan wrote:

>Over the last few days, I've read the posts that have flown back and forwards
>between you and Bob.  I had no particular 'side' in the debate before; as I
>presume is the case with most people, but some of the posts you have made are
>beginning to change my mind.
>
>The title of one of your posts was, 'A Crippled TIGER is still much better than
>a full strength CRAFTY'  On reflection, don't you consider that was just a
>little arrogant?
>
>You later wrote...
>
>>"Now take some guy that collects all the known working algorithms,puts them all
>>together in a program named Crafty, and makes the sources public.
>>Well, that's a nice idea. Thanks a lot. It is a fine pedagogic tool."
>
>and...
>
>>"Remember, your program is at least 100 elo points behind ours. Each of us has
>>done at least 10 times more creative work than you have. You have spent 30 years
>>on this and you are still well behind."
>
>If i had done as much work on Computer Chess as Bob has, i would be _extremely_
>offended by these last posts.  Are you implying that he's never made anything
>wothwhile??  You have done _10_ times as much work as Bob?  Sounds to me like
>your being a little arrogant again...
>


Please stop at this point.  My reasoning for not responding was simple.  Some
statements are so out-of-this-world that they simply don't deserve any reply
at all.  Why?  Simple... the "30 year" statement was just ridiculous.  Drop
by my office in Birmingham, I can show you two WCCC 1st place trophies, plus
a dozen ACM first/second/third place trophies.  Pretty obvious I did something
right.  And pretty obvious that the person making that statement has _no_ such
results.

Ergo, I felt no response was justified.

Thereis no need to drag this out.  Crafty is playing fine.  I am not unhappy
with my "lack of progress".  Don't get bent out of shape.  :)




>When people criticised the tone of you 'crippled TIGER...' post, you replied...
>
>>What I find funny is that some people feel the need to tell me my post was a
>>little bit provocative, but these people did not open their mouth on your
>>          "if you are implying this you are full of snot".
>
>This is a good point.  There is a subtle difference between your comments and
>Bob's.  Bob writes _'if'_.  He doesn't say:  Amir, you are full of snot, he
>says, when provoked, '_if_ you are accussing me of lying, you are full of snot.
>Neither does he belittle Amir or yourself, as you do in two of the abpve quotes.
>
>As I see it, and i stand to be corrected, Amir implied that Bob had
>intentionally programmed unsporting behaviour into Crafty, in the attempt to
>gain ICC rating points.
>This annoyed Bob.  I don't believe there are many people that it wouldnt incense
>if the slur was addressed to them personally.
>
>In another post, you say that Bob posts in a patronising way.
>Surely saying...
>
>your program is at least 100 elo points behind ours. Each of us has
>done at least 10 times more creative work than you have. You have spent 30 years
>>on this and you are still well behind."
>
>is patronising to Bob??
>
>I don't know how and if you will reply to these points.  If i'm wrong about
>them, please correct me.  I'm sure that you did not intend to create the
>impression that you did with me.  Its probably just my problem with reading
>them.
>It seems that when arguments like this start, the bad sides of everyone are
>brought out.  Bitterness provokes bitterness, and mis-interpretation makes this
>even worse.
>
>This isn't a personal attack, i just thought you might want make your views
>clear, if what i have written here isn't the correct interpretation.



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