Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihlpg.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!ihlpg!jeand From: jeand@ihlpg.UUCP (AMBAR) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: Re: Showing Off (Athletics VS Intell Message-ID: <830@ihlpg.UUCP> Date: Fri, 12-Jul-85 11:50:10 EDT Article-I.D.: ihlpg.830 Posted: Fri Jul 12 11:50:10 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jul-85 13:33:09 EDT References: <1030@trwatf.UUCP> <33100024@ISM780.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 27 > "Like English to Russian?" "Sea? Do you work in Atlantis?" Sigh. > -- and so on... -- > > How can I answer this without making them feel like they are stupid, but ^^^^^^ I think the trick is more in your voice and attitude than your actual wording. If they don't understand 'tech-ese' then you're going to have to translate it into plain English. I would probably do something like this: "There are different computer languages, just like there are different human languages, and I translate programs from one to the other." Now, I know I can get away with this without sounding as though I'm talking to a child. I also know some people who can't. The advantage of this approach is that if they're interested in more details, they can ask--and if they're not, you haven't scared them off. > also avoiding the path "It's a very technical job, you wouldn't understand > without a longwinded and boring discussion"? > (--Darryl Richman, INTERACTIVE Systems Corp. PS. What's wrong with the English/Russian analogy? -- AMBAR {the known universe}!ihnp4!ihlpg!jeand "To those who love it is given to hear Music too high for the human ear." --Bruce Cockburn