[gghh]

If I could add one prescription to TFA, it would be to avoid using "just" (the adverb, as in "simply") at all costs.

"A monad is just a monoid in the category of endofunctors."

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but none of that is simple. There's that math joke about proof methods, and this would be "proof by intimidation".

When describing a process: "To measure the inverse reactive current in unilateral phase detractors, just use an ordinary turbo encabulator". Why "just"? Are there other methods? For what reason is this the preferred one?

When giving advice: "Why don't you just use a bash script?" This implies your suggestion is simpler or more economical than my proposed approach, therefore better, but you aren't supporting its alleged superiority with arguments I can counter, only implying it.

[hansvm]

> monads, "just"

I think that line is usually quoting a popular joke from a comedic tour of various programming languages, and "just" is appropriate.

> A monad is just a monoid in the category of endofunctors. What's the problem?

[gghh]

I see. It was the first sentence that came to mind. The point I'm trying to make is, in my experience, "just" is often abused, as it conveniently relieves one from providing a sound argument.

[hansvm]

Totally agreed. Your other examples were spot-on, and the general sentiment also makes sense to me.

[aorth]

Yes, good suggestion. I've also stopped using "just" when speaking or writing in the last few years. You can almost always drop it and retain the same meaning without sounding rude or dismissive.

I've noticed this in at least one other language I'm loosely familiar with (Bulgarian) and it holds there too. When the speaker adds "просто" it has the same effect of sounding rude and dismissive.

[gghh]

Right: rude, dismissive, patronizing. Gives me exactly this impression, you put it into words better than me.

[chungmin]

What is TFA?

[gghh]

What I meant by it is "the fine article", meaning the post. Actually using acronyms goes against "Don't assume knowledge", incidentally a point in Eva's list (the article).

I've learned the acronym here on HN, googled for a second and found "the fine article" as explanation, but now that you ask I've checked wiktionary... and apparently the commonly accepted meaning is derogatory (the f*king article, like "RTFM", "read the F-ing manual).

Lesson learned, won't be saying "TFA" again unless I mean f-ing