Looney Labs Icehouse Mailing list Archive

[Kory Heath <kory@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

David Artman wrote:

> Proposed Revision:
> "If a Student guesses and is incorrect, the Master must adjust one or 
> both of the two koans to disprove the guess while ensuring that, after 
> any and all adjustments, both koans retain their original relationships 
> to the rule
I think the phrase "must adjust one or both of the two koans to disprove 
the guess" contributed to my original confusion, since it can be 
misinterpreted as saying that when you adjust both koans, they must both 
disprove the guess. How about something like this:

"If a Student guesses and is incorrect, the Master must adjust one of 
the koans so that it disproves the guess. In doing so, the Master may 
remove pieces from the koan or add pieces to it. The Master may also use 
pieces from the other koan, or adjust the other koan in any way, as long 
as after all adjustments, both koans retain their original relationships 
to the rule (i.e. the true koan remains true and the false koan remains 
false), and one of them disproves the guess."

I think that does a decent job of encouraging the proper motivations 
(i.e. try to just build one counter-example and don't change too much), 
while still ultimately allowing the Master to do whatever he/she feels 
is necessary. I wouldn't bother mentioning the "unfair advantage" 
explanation - most people won't care much about it, and those that do 
care will already understand it.

-- Kory