Threads

[pjw]

I wonder a little bit how all this information will help to answer Popopos question how to compile a S*Basic program?
<>

Its natural in human conversation that one digresses somewhat as new
elements appear in the discussion. In debates and academic discussions one
is usually quick to return to the main topic and any digressions are
pertinent to the main issue. With idle chit-chat, of course, it is equally
natural to start with "jam" and end up with US politics, via handbags,
toothpaste, and onion rings.

As a serious hobby discussion group we should, ideally, operate somewhere
in between. There is room for both in this forum, just, preferably, not
under the same heading. The Hardware, Software, QL Emulation headings, and
perhaps a few others should ideally be reasonably strict, while the Off
Topic and General Chat sections could be more "anything goes".

Strictly private discussions and in-jokes between two or three individuals,
talking over the heads of other people about entirely different matters
that have (at best) only a tangential bearing on the topic under
discussion, well, thats simply bad manners. Especially if it isnt just a
one-off. Get a room! and go and do your business there.

I know I myself sin against these strictures from time to time. One of the
reasons for that is I get the email feed, which doesnt contain complete
information (like whos being quoted, and code listing are still a mess) so
I often get caught up in the text of the discussion and dont
always notice the context. Thats my excuse, anyway.

Another Ive often noticed is that by the time I realise that we're
discussing a different topic and I open a new thread for that topic, most
of the discussion is already done and the thread goes quiet, so Im
reluctant to do so and rather just go along with the flow.

Perhaps we could try a little harder in 2025?

[Derek_Stewart]

HI:

I think the AI stuff is nonesense, as I usually switch off the AI function in the browser, as it gives me answers from a web search with answers I already know.

To quote Jules Verne: I need answers to question I do not know.

It also seem to me that AI, ChatGPT, is just a database with a bit of code to interrogate the database, so is AI just database engineering renamed to make a Database Expert interesting?

[Derek_Stewart]

HI:

I have been updating the Book: "Artificial Intelligence On The Sinclair QL - Make Your Micro Think", which a badly scanned version is available on a web site.

I have done this:

- Split the scanned pages into single pages from double scanned page
- OCRed the PDF file
- Imported the OCR Text output into LibreOffice Writer
- Import any diagrams required from PDF
- Reformat the document into A5 book, same as the original.

I am up to Chapter 7 which is about 60% done.

I will post it here for comment and the other books I have processed will appear in a central point, maybe Github.

[pjw]

<groan>

[tofro]

<groan>

Why? Just proving your point.

[pjw]

<groan>

Why? Just proving your point.

My guess is that is was just an honest mistake of the sort I confessed to
in my post above, so it doesnt prove the whole thesis.

I should probably shut up now, but after reviewing the whole thread this
started off as an apropos to, I cant help but expounding a little more.
Please note Im NOT taking said thread, or anyone writing to it, to task,
but rather it puts me in mind of a pattern Ive seen repeated many times.

It seems to me that a lot of people want to run before they can walk. In
fact theyd prefer not to learn to walk at all but go straight for the
Olympics. The correct answer to a lot of questions that pop up on this forum,
and previously on the QL-users list, and before that in QUANTA magazine
etc, should be: RTFM (Read The Flippin' Manual)! The next step should be:
Try it out! (Try 50+ variations if necessary!) If still no success, a third
step could be: See if the question has been asked and answered before!

I dont mean to discourage anyone from asking for help, just show you are
invested in the answer by doing your bit first.

People who ask for help should understand that while some questions might
be easy to ask, they can be hard to answer. True, some issues are so well
known by those whove been at it for a while that it is just a matter of
typing the solution. But the petitioner may erroneously believe that
applies to every question. However, that is not be correct. In some cases
research is needed. Such research taking time and effort, either because
the answer is not known, or because the knowledge has faded over time and
needs to be rechecked so as not to cause error or confusion.

It has been revealed that so called AI systems use a LOT of energy, water
and other resources to answer simple questions. So does HI. Remember that,
petitioner!

[XorA]

So does HI

And a few pints of beer!

[pjw]

So does HI

And a few pints of beer!

You bet! However, sadly the quantity of beer is inversely proportional to the I in HI, as in I = H/beer or somethink..

[Derek_Stewart]

So does HI

And a few pints of beer!

You bet! However, sadly the quantity of beer is inversely proportional to the I in HI, as in I = H/beer or somethink..

I n my case it is: I = H/E^(beer)

Where beer = any alcoholic drink

But seriously, I post questions to simulate interesting conversation with others that know more than.

I only know what I read in the manuals.

Also, I think there are no stupid questions...