Yeah, way back before HN/reddit/digg existed, one of the coolest things about /. was that every so often somebody like John Carmack would pop up and comment on a story they had direct knowledge about.

Back around 2000 that was pretty novel.

There's actually a technique to this, going back to Usenet. You can draw out the answer you want this way, by saying something technically incorrect as if it were correct.

There should be an Internet rule or law named for this

Hereby coined "James's Law"

"Given a large enough crowd, someone is bound to know what in the hell they're talking about."

"...and enough cretins who will anger her/him into telling everyone how it really is."

I am deeply honored :)

Here's a plausible answer: http://nancyfriedman.typepad.com/away_with_words/2010/05/wor...