Re: [Gretl-users] Bug

On Tue, 8 Dec 2009, Talha Yalta wrote: >> If I write c = 5 I would expect c to be defined by what is on the >> right hand side of the expression and this is a scalar.  5*const is a >> series and therefore c=5*constant defines c to be a (series). > > Thank you. This makes sense. But what also makes sense to me is that > |Add|Define new variable| expects the user to enter a functional > relation such as y=3+2x where x is a variable. So logic dictates (at > least to me) that y=3 is a horizontal line, not a single point. > I rest my case. > Talha Hang on a second. As I said, I'm not particularly interested in arguing intricate points on what is "best" in a GUI interface (it's simply something I don't have a passion for, sorry). But this is way over the top. Talha, you say "|Add|Define new variable| expects the user to enter a functional relation such as y=3+2x where x is a variable" as if this is obvious. Well, it isn't. And don't try to convince me that it is, because it isn't to me (hence it isn't, full stop). The point I'm trying to make here is that what we see as obvious is the outcome of an infinite set of prior beliefs, preferences, a priori ideas each of us has deeply ingrained in our minds. You should realise that maybe other people have a different taste (so what is "clearly" better for you may not be for someone else) and/or different priorities. On the present case: I _personally_ think that the phrase "Define new variable" in the context of an econometric package means "define a new container (short for 'a certain subset of my RAM') and fill it with appropriate values". Maybe my mind works this way because of my computer upbringing, maybe I'm just nuts, but I'd never think of a "functional relation". Would you think of a "functional relation" if you had encountered the phrase "Define new variable" in octave? or in R? Why should gretl be different? Just because _you_ like to think that the outcome of this operation is something that will eventually be represented on the vertical axis of a Cartesian plane? Not enough to me, sorry. (pause) Ok. (breathes) Sorry for the rant. I'm back in spectator mode. Riccardo (Jack) Lucchetti Dipartimento di Economia Università Politecnica delle Marche r.lucchetti(a)univpm.it http://www.econ.univpm.it/lucchetti _______________________________________________ Gretl-users mailing list Gretl-users(a)lists.wfu.edu http://lists.wfu.edu/mailman/listinfo/gretl-users