This page contains copies of personal emails and public posts about Linking and The Art of Writing which were written in 2003 by RAWA, Richard A. Watson, Cyan programmer and ultimate D'ni historian. The plain gray print is quoted from Cyan's web site, or written by Richard Watson.

Posted to the DRC webboards

Dr. Watson
DRC Member # 38
posted May 05, 2003

I don't wish to stifle these kinds of debates, so I usually stay out of them. However, I'll make a brief exception here to give you something to consider.

quote:
Originally posted by Shu:
As to the changes in Ages, ANY change in text should shift the link IF THE AGES ARE PRE-EXISTING.

When discussing theories, it is important to come up with hypotheses like this one. It is dangerous, however, to hold a hypothesis so tightly that it blinds you to other possibilities. If your hypothesis turns out to be incorrect, then the conclusions based on that hypothesis will very likely turn out to be incorrect as well.

Atrus obviously made changes to Ages and was still convinced that they were pre-existing and that he did not create them. Atrus was not deluding himself, and he seemed to have a pretty good grasp of what he was doing. Maybe he figured out something that you have not considered yet because you are treating this particular hypothesis as fact.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled debate...

Dr. W.

From: D'ni Cavern