On Wed, Apr 25, 2001 at 03:05:00PM +0900, Guy N. Hurst wrote:
> 
> "W. Kent Starr" wrote:
> > ...
> > Personally, I think a sorceress with a magic ruby ensconced staff is a
> > dynamite idea (ty Conrad).
> > 
> > A sorta 'sexy' little sorceress is alluring, attracting, and she casts 'her'
> > magic spell and you're caught forever. She promise 'power', 'paradise',
> > 'reawakening', 'enlightenment' and 'new experiences' which 'expand' and
> > 'enhance'.
> > 
> 
> Please, no.  Sorcerery is evil, and the female casting spells is even as bad,
> with the concept of seduction.

?? Sorry, but I cannot I comprehend this.
 
> Ruby is above this. Ruby is charming, yes, but it is *noble*.
> That is the primary thing that made me feel it was worth my
> while before I knew enough about it.  That is also why I am investing
> so much time and money in it today.
> 
> For example, I stayed away from python simply because I was judging 
> the book by its cover: "what can I expect from something that associates 
> itself with a snake, or even with an irreverant comedy show?"
> I only learned it because of some trusted sources, combined with the
> fact that I would be getting paid to use it on a project.
> And now, I am so glad I can finally part from it by using ruby 
> instead.
> 
> I don't know about the rest of you, but I am seeking something noble,
> and worth being associated with.  And the name and image do mean something.
> 
> I like that matz has religious values and seeks to inculcate respect on 
> the mailing list etc.  I like that ruby has a noble association.  

Hmm, I can accompany you here only partly. I strive for noble
things too and I am also quite religious (christian that is in my
case).

I don't like all comedy from Monty Python. I enjoy some and find some
disguisting. But I never found offence in the association of python with a
snake or the comedy show. Why do you? Is it about the role the snake
plays in the beginning of the bible?

While I would find it awkward to use symbols with too much prejudices
against it (swastika, (mokked) cross, Yin/Yang, ...), one cannot
consider every possible association. There are always people 'feeling
bad' about it.

> And I think it is so fortunate that there was something like the
> ruby-crowned kinglet in existence at all, not to mention that in
> real life it is regarded so highly.

I like eather the idea of the kinglet or the sorceress.

Here are some more thoughts on it
- There are a lot of animals used already, so using a kinglet would be
  a little bit boring. Then again there is now large programming
  language using a bird yet.
- It is much easier to make drawings and icons of a bird than of a
  human. This can be seen nicely on the page with the proposed mascots
  (http://www.rubyconf.com/mascot.html). The artist had to use a lot
  more and thiner lines for the woman.
- The sorceress would be really nice for tutorials.

-- 
marko schulz

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