Quoting Scionforbai <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: >> It would be dumb to ignore the fact that Excel is a very widespread >> program, and therefore in the real world we are very likely to >> encounter data formatted by Excel. > > Of course I know the widespreading of such programs. But the point is: > how can we start to change this in the real world? People using > proprietary formats are annoying, even more if they don't even think > about it and don't know what a format is. > >> I use R as a means to an end, as a tool to solve real world problems, >> not out of a religious idealism. > > I think this is a very important point. Whatever critic to the "real > world habits" one can move, it is said to be religious idealism (or at > least geeky attitude). > There are technical and philosophical reasons for discouraging using > proprietary software/formats (Marc Schwartz provided a link which > points out some about spreadshits - yes, intentional ;) ). This is > true even if you aren't communist, anarchist, or GNUliban. > The fact that in your real life you solve real problems doesn't mean > that you should not ask yourself which means you use and why, nor > discussing about others'choices. "Because everyone out there does the > same" is not, for me, a satisfying answer. And I just wanted to > discuss about that, in the hope that maybe someone, reading these few > messages, would start asking himself the same question. > Regards, > s.
Ah! You're really talking about trying to change the world! Now I understand. ;-) It's not a trivial task, and whilst I tell everyone who wants to listen how great R is, and I have turn a handful of people towards R, I am not sure I want to become a hardcore campaigner! Hence my comment about being "means to an end". Doing what everybody else does is not a good reason to do things, in an ideal world. Just because most people choose one way it doesn't make it the best. Truth is not democratic. But life is a lot easier if we adapt to existing trends, and use *all* the tools available to our advantage. regards, Jose -- Dr. Jose I. de las Heras Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology Phone: +44 (0)131 6513374 Institute for Cell & Molecular Biology Fax: +44 (0)131 6507360 Swann Building, Mayfield Road University of Edinburgh Edinburgh EH9 3JR UK -- The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. ______________________________________________ [email protected] mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.
