Tim Carmody on Squishy > Slick*
Tim Carmody chimes in with an appropriate analogy from the world of automated weapons:
I sometimes think of this as AK-47 > M-16. Because the AK’s parts fit together loosely and it could be endlessly modified, it worked in any conditions and could be used by anyone. The M-16 was precision-manufactured for professional soldiers and (especially early on) was prone to jam if it got wet or dirty.
*N.B. “Squishy > Slick” is Frank Chimero’s. It’s not mine. I have only lovingly appropriated it for the title of this Tumblr. Frank is writing a book right now, and you should buy it when it becomes a reality. Which I hope it does soon. But if other things become more important in life, like what happened to Merlin Mann, I’d understand that too.
