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Subject:Re: Instructions to "Be Patient" from a Machine From:Robert Plamondon <robert -at- PLAMONDON -dot- COM> Date:Sun, 2 Apr 1995 07:57:20 PDT
>I don't see much difference between "Be patient" and "Please
>wait." Just as someone may be put off by a machine suggesting a
>mental state, I may be put off by a machine asking me to wait.
>Unless I'm patient by nature, I may not *want* to wait. ;-)
There are two basic differences:
1. "Be patient" is a command, "Please wait" is a request.
2. While you "may not want to wait," it's clear from context that
waiting is necessary to complete the task you've initiated.
But at least the machine isn't demanding that you wait
PATIENTLY. It's just pointing out that, to complete the task
that you've told it to do, there's some waiting involved. You
can be just as impatient as you want. The machine doesn't
care. (Even if it did care, a polite machine would pretend
not to notice.)
-- Robert
--
Robert Plamondon * Writer * robert -at- plamondon -dot- com * (408) 321-8771
4271 North First Street, #106 * San Jose * California * 95134-1215
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