Numeric comparisons

[rdp at teddy.UUCP]

In article <688 at mmintl.UUCP> franka at mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams) writes:
>
>Architectures where a branch cannot be taken based on a comparison of two
>signed numbers with two instructions (maybe three) are brain-damaged.  
>
>Compilers should generate a correct branch even on brain-damaged machines.
>Compilers for a machine where a compare and branch works, but a subtract
>and branch doesn't, but which use a subtract and branch, are *really*
>brain-damaged.
>

While this reply was inspired by this particular posting, it is not a
flame at the poster, but rather to the network in general.

Over a number of years, members of my family have been involved in the
care and education of retarded and brain-damaged people. Recently, I
myself married and gained a 14-year old son with epilepsy. The cavalier
use of the term "brain-damaged" is both innappropriate and, in some cases,
downright offensive. The use of the term seems to be limited to net.lang.c,
which may or may not be testimony to the level of courtesy of the people
inclined to communicate in this forum. 

The attitude exemplified above seems to give this person the impression that
matters of incontrovertable physical law are being questioned 
("architectures ... ARE brain-damaged:, as opposed to "architectures ...
I find deficient"). The opinoins expressed on this net are just that. Frankly,
letters like the above I find to be the output of human architectures
which are socially-damaged.

Flames in reply are not solicited, welcome, or accepted.

Thank you

Dick Pierce