The Bridge

A hash function is any well-defined procedure or mathematical function that converts a large, possibly variable-sized amount of data into a small datum, usually a single integer that may serve as an index to an array.

Mechko

honestly, I think frames per second == framerate

first person shooter == fps

Arda Xi

if you make bigger data into less data, you will get collisions

tzenes

I've been hashing fps as frames per second for a long time now

Arda Xi

that's a mathematical fact

antony.trupe

let fps mean first-person-shooter, and let framerate mean frames-per-second, problem solved

Arda Xi

3:36 PM

@tzenes this isn't your site, is it?

tzenes

@Arda noone is arguing that

but I have the power to make new tags or retag

Arda Xi

you're saying that because you do it, we should do it

which is wrong

tzenes

hold on now, I'm not arguing that

antony.trupe

as do others

Arda Xi

consensus right now is antony's solution

tzenes

3:37 PM

do not misrepresent me, I am not arguing for a change from that standard

I am arguing that acronyms are inhierently broken

Arda Xi

yes you are!

so you're arguing for a change from fps

tzenes

I am not arguing for change

Arda Xi

which is the standard we have agreed upon

tzenes

only that they are broken

Arda Xi

you're arguing against change, actually

antony.trupe

3:38 PM

I'm having a hard time keeping my head wrapped around what you're argueing tzenes, but I think I'm getting sidetracked to much. can you explain from the beginning?

tzenes

in the beginning I said: acronyms are broken

just look at fps vs fps

antony.trupe

broken as in detrimential? or broken as in you know a way to make them better?

tzenes

Arda said this was an exception which proves the rule

broken in the sense that they do not perform their function

Arda Xi

which is an idiom btw, for the misinformed

tzenes

right

and I took issue with that statement

Mechko

3:40 PM

the idiom means that the fact that you consider it an exception is what proves that X is a rule

Arda Xi

I later changed that by the way, I then said one exception doesn't dis prove the rule

antony.trupe

so they're neither adding or subtracting from the value of the site for you?
then ignore them, no?

tzenes

right

They're not serving their purpose

Arda Xi

my whole argument (what started it) is that our current tagging system is inconsistent

which is what we should strive to fix

tzenes

and I said its broken in this important way

antony.trupe

3:41 PM

and I don't think that's the topic tzenes is on Arda.

tzenes

Well it is sortof a counter argument for fixing it, but I made that comment off the cuft without really thinking it through. Given more time I think we should fix it

I think we should be consistent

antony.trupe

correct me if I'm still misunderstanding, but you, tzenes, are arguing that tag acronyms aren't adding value, right?

tzenes

no antony

Arda Xi

what then happened was

I said it's impossible for tags to be consistent by expanding them

tzenes

right

Arda Xi

3:43 PM

so I suggested we use the acronyms unless there's good reason not to (fps)

tzenes

which I think is a good reason not to

but I further suggested that the FPS situation might recur

which I believe you think is unlikely

Arda Xi

I also think we could just deal with that when it happens

tzenes

well I'm not arguing we can't (or I'd be advocating change right now) merely that it is less desirable than having a tagging scheme that avoids it

Mechko

Which is?

antony.trupe

would it be better, worse, or no different if the acronym tags were removed(and no other tags added)?

Arda Xi

3:45 PM

but it's less impossible than having a tagging scheme that avoids it

tzenes

@Mechko abbreviating only when necessary

@antonytrupe since that isn't a necessity I hadn't considered it

@ArdaXi while I agree I think we can evaluate a tagging scheme on how probable it is to avoid it

antony.trupe

fair enough. just trying to get a better feeling on positions.

tzenes

in that context the current scheme ranks poorly

Arda Xi

I don't think that if the Royal Television Society would start making games, we'd tag them with rts

tzenes

is that a real thing? The Royal Television Society?

Arda Xi

3:48 PM

even though the chance of collision might be there, I think the change for ambiguity is much lower

yeah, it is

tzenes

sorry I find that name vaguely humerous

Arda Xi

we're only discussing ambiguity after all

tzenes

right right

It depends on how sucessful the Royal Television Society becomes at making video games

And whether or not people abbreviate their name as RTS

or feel the need to tag game makers in their question

Arda Xi

the chance for ambiguity is much lower than the chance for collision, and even collision has only happened once in all these years that video games have existed

this is what programmers call premature optimization

tzenes

I am familiar with the term

while I agree the chance is low I'm not sure we can judge if it is lower, as the site has only been around for a month

and I realize this maybe premature optimization, but since I'm not advocating change now, I'm ok with that

Arda Xi

3:51 PM

but I am

tzenes

it is only a theorhetical discussion

Arda Xi

we need change in the consistency either way

we're just discussing which way it should go

tzenes

a point which I agree on

Arda Xi

I didn't start this argument as a theoretical discussion

tzenes

I don't think this issue is so important as to influence such discussion

Arda Xi

3:52 PM

well, we need a decision

do we make rts the synonym or real-time-strategy

either way, tags need to be changed, because the system right now is inconsistent

tzenes

well you know my feelings and why, but they're not so strong as for me to demand it

I will be happy regardless, but I think we should shy away from acronyms when ever possible

Arda Xi

rest assured, if the Royal Television Society does become so good at making games that rts becomes ambiguous, we can change it then

tzenes

it would be nicer if we didn't have to, but I agree

Arda Xi

but we can't offer consistency with the full names

it is impossible because of engine limitations

tzenes

I think we can offer a degree of consistency which I am satisfied with

mmo-role-playing-game

Arda Xi

3:55 PM

that's not consistent at all

tzenes

the rule being "Use long for whenever possible."

Arda Xi

but that's not consistent

tzenes

like I said that is a degree of consistency

Arda Xi

it's better to provide 100% consistency in my opinion

tzenes

we can't offer true consistency because of the existance of frames per second and first person shooter

one of those won't be an acronym

Arda Xi

3:56 PM

fps isn't an acronym for 'framerate'

tzenes

so we are already inconsistent

and I need to use the bathroom

yes it is

Arda Xi

then where do the p and the s come from

Mechko

sigh this argument is spurious. either we go with the precedent on the internet and offer documentation, or we make our own naming scheme so everyone is equally unfamiliar

Arda Xi

shall I just post on meta proposing acronyms?

alexanderpas

fps -> frames per second -> framerate

Arda Xi

3:57 PM

then everyone gets a chance to chime in

by using framerate we avoid the problem entirely without hurting consistency

antony.trupe

@Arda yes

Arda Xi

framerate isn't truly gaming-relevant either way, it's more gamedev related