From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Oct 17 00:00:44 2009 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B45E2106568B for ; Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:44 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from steve@ibctech.ca) Received: from smtp.ibctech.ca (v6.ibctech.ca [IPv6:2607:f118::b6]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 5457B8FC1C for ; Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:44 +0000 (UTC) Received: (qmail 88667 invoked by uid 89); 17 Oct 2009 00:01:24 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO ?IPv6:2607:f118::5?) (steve@ibctech.ca@2607:f118::5) by 2607:f118::b6 with ESMTPA; 17 Oct 2009 00:01:24 -0000 Message-ID: <4AD90946.4020204@ibctech.ca> Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:01:10 -0400 From: Steve Bertrand User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.17 (Windows/20080914) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: PJ References: <4AD8EB8F.9010900@videotron.ca> <20091017010758.088b8b8c.freebsd@edvax.de> <4AD9016E.20302@videotron.ca> In-Reply-To: <4AD9016E.20302@videotron.ca> X-Enigmail-Version: 0.96.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: Polytropon , "freebsd-questions@freebsd.org" Subject: Re: I hate to bitch but bitch I must X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:44 -0000 PJ wrote: > Polytropon wrote: >> On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:54:23 -0400, PJ wrote: >>> but from man tunefs: >>> BUGS >>> This utility should work on active file systems. >>> What in hades does this mean--just above it says cannot be run on active >>> file systems. ??? >>> >> It "should". This means: Don't try that. :-) >> >> My printer isn't printing! >> But it should. >> No, it is not printing! >> Yes, but it should. >> :-) >> >> > Aha! Gotcha! Whoever wrote that has made an unintentionnal booboo. It is > a subtle difference and is indicative that whoever wrote it is not a > native english user... the meaning is clearly "should be executed, done, > carried out, performed" - should work means it can be carried out - I > think the author meant to say "should not be done" If you feel that you've found a 'bug' within the manual/documentation of a piece of software or function, I highly recommend that you pass it by other users/developers ( as you've kind-of done here ), and then contact the person who is normally listed in the AUTHOR section of the man page after you get a consensus on whether the manual, the code or you have the bug :) If you believe the problem is an engish-linguistic one (and the man page is written in english), let the author know this. Provide the correct verbiage, and an explanation of what your words mean compared to theirs (remember, english may not be their first language). Also, take a look at RFC 2119 for the keyword 'SHOULD' and 'SHOULD NOT'. RFC 2119 is highly regarded as the authority for many keywords, and a quick reference of it may help when trying to explain to an author where you feel their documentation is incorrect (or lacking). Cheers, Steve