Re: Why we don't discuss auxlangs on CONLANG list

On Thu, 5 Nov 1998, Rick Morneau wrote:

> auxlangs that we have to keep in mind.  Artlangers are not trying to
> "sell" their languages, while auxlangers ARE trying.  Because of this,
> IAL designers have to be willing to listen to objective criticism of
> their designs, and some (most? all?) are simply not willing to do this.
In that case, IALers aren't trying to sell, they're trying to perform
religious conversions.  I deal with a lot of company representatives, and
they're always happy to get an earful from me regarding their products.
They know that, if they can improve their product, they'll get more sales.

> In the early days of this list, I pointed out what I considered to be
> flaws in some auxlangs.  The result was long heated arguments that got
> nowhere except to cause a lot of bad feelings.
And when I point out the flaws in a product to a salesman, he takes note,
and sometimes the product has been changed to suit.


> And then the fighting begins.

That's because so many IALers are simply irrational fanatics, not
attempting to produce a perfectable product.