Conference thebay::joyoflex

    One presumes that "straw horse" was conceived in an attempt to
    eliminate implied sexism; I doubt it's exclusively Digital's.
    
    ... Or maybe it's a corruption of "saw horse." ;-)
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    I think "straw horse" is just a mixed metaphor derived from
    "straw man" and "stalking horse". There was a period about
    15 years ago when creating these was a fad, the more outrageous
    the better.
    
    As far as its current use, a "straw man" proposal is an initial
    proposal written with the realization it will get modified. When people
    have something "concrete" to look at, it tends to stimulate their
    thoughts, particularly when they disagree. 

I believe it is a Straw Man document used as a Stocking Horse to conceal
the sinister purpose of the commitee.  That is, by letting people argue
about the details of HOW the project should be done, they are distracted
from the question of WHY it should be done at all.

					>>>==>PStJTT

    Then there was the series of documents that led to the creation of the
    ADA language:  Strawman, Woodenman, Tinman, Ironman, Steelman.
    
    I think a Straw Horse document is a Straw Man document created by a
    committee that's just horsing around.

    I think I'll burn that bridge when I come to it. 

    re .4: It was Woodman, not Woodenman.

    re: 5
    
    I think they call it "straw" because, being a first draft (which is
    what any intelligent person would have called it in the first place),
    it is almost certain to end up on the fire, and must therefore be
    reasonably flammable.
    
    Chris

    Re: .7
    
    Oh, no!  The dreaded "flammable" again.  I presume .7 really means
    "inflammable". 

    I have a theory....
    
    In 16th and 17th century English poetry/prose there are many allusions
    to "straw horses" or horses that magically transform into bails of
    hay/straw when ridden over water. I think there is a scene in Marlowe's
    "Dr Faustus": a man is sold a very good horse for a measly sum, and
    when he asked the salesman why it was so cheap, the salemsan responds
    that it is because the horse should never be ridden over running
    water....
    
    The new owner of the horse rode it over fields and hills and it was
    superb - a real quality horse.... But he was not satisfied, and his
    curiosity got the better of him so he rode it over a brook, and..... it
    turned into a bail of straw... The rider was nearly drawoned, and all
    he had left was some wet straw for his money - hardly such a barigain
    as the horse had been...
    
    I think this tale has been used to descibe those documents which,
    though complete in some areas, are obviously incomplete in others. Just
    like the horse went well over land, though not so well over water. Such
    documents are meant to be partial, and the authors (should) make no
    promises about their state. However, unwary/stupid readers (riders)
    sometimes focus on the defficiencies.... It is thus a good way of
    promoting discussion about particular parts of a document!
    
    What do you think?
    
    R|tch^d

    re: .8
    
    Whoops! Mea maxima culpa!
    
    Chris

     re.9
    
    If the document is a straw horse of the type described ie it doesn't
    go well over water, it may refer to a document written in the UK
    that US corporate personnel may not comprehend/like.
    
    PBT.