Re: user has no business toggling overwrite-mode in read-only buffers

[David Kastrup]

Dan Jacobson <jidanni@dman.ddts.net> writes:

> In a new crackdown on excessive freedoms, prime minister Moi
> recommends toggling overwrite-mode be outlawed in read-only buffers.
> 
> In an interview, he was quoted as saying "It just doesn't make sense.
> Why should we allow kids to toggle it back and fourth if they can't
> possibly use it?  They might get the wrong impression, that they can
> write stuff!  Only later will they find out the real deal."

I beg to disagree.  One might gear up all necessary resources for an
onslaught onto a buffer before one finally disabled read-only-ness.
So I find toggling over-write mode a perfectly sensible operation even
on read-only buffers.

However, to make the case of visual feedback, I would tend to gray
out a "toggle overwrite-mode" menu item, while still having it work
if you ignored the grayout.

Of course, this probably would violate all imaginable user interface
guidelines...

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum