Questionning questions - Rashmon

Most often we hear people asking for concise and compact answers. This is only acceptable when the two parties share a common understanding of the context. Due to the inherent ambiguity of the natural languages is the cause of the problem. More so, if one of the parties tries to play with words (showoff!) and other ignoramus obiliges.

An example of this is the popular illustration: "Panda eats, shoots and leaves" vs. "Panda eats, shoots, and leaves". The difference is that, of a panda doing what pandas do, or a clinteastwood western classic.

More dangerous are the glitches that show up when some one with a uncanny knack for finding loopholes (lawyers!) comesup with a ridiculous conclusion that wasn't even half expected. This makes, usage of simple language and active voice, of paramount importance. I have recently read a joke to illustrate this:

David and John were walking by a church. David suddenly had one of those electrifying moments and popped a question to John.
David: "John, is it ok to smoke and pray at the same time".
John: "Why don't we ask the preacher."
David: "Ok" (goes into the church)
David: "Father, Is it ok to smoke while praying to God?"
Priest: "Son, such things are unacceptable while praying"
(David comesout and tells John)
John: "Are you sure about that? I will go and ask once again" (John goes in)
John: "Father, Is it ok to pray when we do other things in life"
Priest: "Son, It is the most ideal thing to do"

(Moral: Ask the right questions to get the right answers)

In the movie "Rashmon" the director Akira Kurosawa, showcases the human eccentricity in narration and interpretation of the events. Life would be a better place, if every interviewer/questioner deals with fact finding than interpretation.

Pleasant surprises

Every one who has worked with UI designers (people who swear by Fireworks and Photoshop) know how insolent they can be. We laymen, find it difficult to appreciate how much effort has gone into a button or some other image, until we put things side by side. Programmers don't care for the gloss that shows up, designers and end users do. So do sales folks. Never ignore the fact that it is the cream that sells the cake and not the crust.

When you see a button, you should feel like clicking it. Not like the button images that the current template uses. A button bulges up, takes a large font and has a finish that pops out. Like Disney’s animal pictures, with huge eyes and soft texture. These are achieved by tinkering around opacities, gradients, crops and colour combinations. Sounds simple, next time try going for a round of shopping with a bunch of girls. You can appreciate the nuances (rather forced to).

After all, we are not Borg, we do have individual tastes. That said, the next time you go shopping dont' forget to check the cakes' crust as well!