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Martin Fowler writes about how terms in Software Development world often get changed into something that they really don't mean.
SemanticDiffusion[^]
Fowler writes: Semantic diffusion occurs when you have a word that is coined [by] a person or group, often with a pretty good definition, but then gets spread through the wider community in a way that weakens that definition.
It's why you cannot say certain terms (Agile, Software Architecture, etc) without every response being different.
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Semantic Diffusion means Same Difference. See what I did?
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Bassam Abdul-Baki wrote: See what I did?
Of course, the community must now punish you for your insolence.
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Is that what it means? I thought it meant when different developers in a project use different languages.
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PIEBALDconsult wrote: I thought it meant...
Well, apparently we all think it means something different.
Also, I'm stuck in a time-space continuum loop where all I can do is mumble, "semantic diffusion...semantic diffusion..."
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No, no, no! That's syntactic diffusion.
Software Zen: delete this;
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What? I thought that was part of wooing.
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You mean the Lost Tribes of Israel?
Ah, no that's Semitic Diffusion.
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Hardly new.
Lewis Carroll wrote: “Then you should say what you mean,” the March Hare went on. “I do,” Alice hastily replied; “at least—at least I mean what I say—that's the same thing, you know.”
And don't get me started on pollie-speak, fake news, ....
Cheers,
Peter
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012
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I thought this was going to be about layoffs at that antivirus company, but I guess that would be Symantec Diffusion. Really buzzwords are just the child game of telephone adultisized.
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That's old. Ask one (1) question and you get at least 20 answers, 40 opinions and 80 comments from 5 code monkeys. Or none at all.
I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.
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I see it happening loads in IT as well as outside of IT the most funny example I recently saw wasan antifa rally(anti-fascist) where people were carryign boards sayign thing like "down with fascism".
So a chap was going around videoing people asking them what the definition of fascism was or what they understood by the word'fascism', a number of people holding these boards just drew a blank and were unable to answer the question while some said it was not important what the word meant.
In some ways the political aspect of the march was unimportant - it was a bunch of people feeling very strongly about something they could not define.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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He might also have asked: "If it's such a bad thing, why are you down with it?"
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
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You need to first define "it" otherwise the rest makes no sense.
Confucius was onto this a long way back -Rectification of names - Wikipedia[^].
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
modified 26-Jan-18 7:35am.
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Confucius was on to a loser as words constantly change meaning. A carbuncle used to be a thing of wonder, now it's an eyesore.
Wittgenstein tried a similar route of looking for definite atomic meaning in words and failed for similar reasons.
Definitions and connotations of words are in a constant state of flux and they interact with the words around them that are also in a state of flux. Heraclitus was probably the nearest philosopher to the mark when he said that "you can't step in the same river once."
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
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Definitions change, however you need to be able to define words you use otherwise hbgfddhb hkugdh ffhvvf happens, don't you agree?
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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Absolutely. In the case you cited, this was clearly the issue.
It does say a great many things about the deliberate and rampant perversion of language that is currently being perpetrated by both political extremes but that would probably be best discussed in The Soapbox!
98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.
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If we all stand together we can end fascism! Who's with me?!
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GuyThiebaut wrote: a number of people holding these boards just drew a blank and were unable to answer the question while some said it was not important what the word meant.
Of those two the second ones are definitely the most idiotic.
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Some say that Agile Soft ware Sucks and that if you use it that makes you an ASS.
I know where my coat is but let me finish my coffee first.
Don't let your mind wander too far.
It's too small to be let out alone.
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Is a by-product a manufacturer's plea to consumers?
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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If you need a diet, I can cellulitis. 
... such stuff as dreams are made on
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not a farewell gift?
Signature ready for installation. Please Reboot now.
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Not an item that works for both men and women?
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So, you though you could just sale along, today? That comment's going to cost you.
Re:tail "markup" of the second kind:
<OG class="pun" style='mount:sheep;'>My eyes! Someone help me - my eyes!</OG>
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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