Re: [PATCH] netfilter: use per-CPU r**ursive lock {XV}

Jan Engelhardt
2009-04-28T07:42:30Z

On Monday 2009-04-27 21:46, Linus Torvalds wrote:

>Clue bat #3 [sic #4]:
>
> - if you do not understand the difference between these two things, don't
> then try to claim that somebody _else_ who does understand it is
> "deluding himself".
>
> Analogy time: Ethernet and a modem line can both get you on the
> internet. Now, let's say that Mr Peter Paste-Eater has heard of
> ethernet, and knows you can get on the internet with an ethernet
> connection, but he happens to use a modem line to do it.
>
> Now, Peter Paste-Eater talks to you, and tells you he is connecting to
> the internet with ethernet, and proudly shows you his serial line and
> modem, and tells you how he uses ethernet to get onto the internet. You
> correct him, and tell him it's not ethernet. He argues for several
> days about how he gets on the internet, and that it must thus be
> ethernet, and that you're obviously just "deluding yourself".
>
>Now, can you see why people react badly to you talking about "recursive
>locks"? You're acting like Peter Paste-Eater calling his serial line
>ethernet.

It could be worse. He could be running Ethernet over serial, e.g. L2TP.
Or his serial line is a TP cable with RJ45 plugs - consumers like
to call that Ethernet (cable) too.