Re: [Gretl-users] Bug

Like Jack says this is an issue of perception. I don't know why I was thinking that way (maybe it is the gretl main window calling series variable while presenting scalars in a separate window) but now I am OK (really) with the idea that a variable is something that can vary such as a vector of values or a scalar (but not a matrix). I am sorry guys for keeping the list busy unnecessarily. I especially would like to apologize from Allin for my initial reaction. I didn't mean to annoy anybody. Regards Talha (Note: I am not being sarcastic.) On Tue, Dec 8, 2009 at 12:02 PM, Riccardo (Jack) Lucchetti <r.lucchetti(a)univpm.it&gt; wrote: > 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 > -- “Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” - Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) -- _______________________________________________ Gretl-users mailing list Gretl-users(a)lists.wfu.edu http://lists.wfu.edu/mailman/listinfo/gretl-users