Most efficient way of saving settings on a bot?

[OnlyMeat]

You have made it quite clear that you are of the opinion that people should use non-standard ways to store user settings.

I have only to reply to this comment. My previous post says everything else.

I wasn't aware that guidelines were standards. Maybe you should take another look at their definitions:-

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=define%3Astandard&btnG=Search&meta=
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=define%3Aguideline&btnG=Search&meta=

[Dyndrilliac]

Guideline:

A statement or other indication of policy or procedure by which to determine a course of action

Standard:

Something, such as a practice or a product, that is widely recognized or employed, especially because of its excellence.

Let's simplify this. I took the liberty of getting the definitions of "practice" and "policy" as well. They also come from the same source (www.dictionary.com).

Guideline: "A statement of policy."
Standard: "Practice or product that is widely accepted."
Policy: A course of action, guiding principle, or procedure considered expedient, prudent, or advantageous.
Practice: To carry out in action; observe.

Well now. Isn't that something. Policy and practice can mean the same thing when referring to actions. A guideline is a policy, and a standard is a practice, and we are definitely talking about an action (Which method to use in programming), so there since we are referring to an action in this case standard and guideline do act as synonyms.

[Adron]

You have made it quite clear that you are of the opinion that people should use non-standard ways to store user settings.

I have only to reply to this comment. My previous post says everything else.

Yeah, your previous posts have clearly shown that you're all into weird opinions. We can agree on that.

I wasn't aware that guidelines were standards. Maybe you should take another look at their definitions:-

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=define%3Astandard&btnG=Search&meta=
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=define%3Aguideline&btnG=Search&meta=

I like to take my definitions from dictionaries, they tend to be clearer. Here we go:

Main Entry: 1stan·dard
Pronunciation: 'stan-d&rd
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French estandard rallying point, standard, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English standan to stand and to Old English ord point -- more at ODD

...

3 : something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example

So, a standard is a model or example of how things should be / typically are.

Main Entry: guide·line
Pronunciation: 'gId-"lIn
Function: noun
...
b : an indication or outline of policy or conduct   

So, guidelines are a collection of outlines of policy/conduct.

Main Entry: 1pol·i·cy
Pronunciation: 'pä-l&-sE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -cies
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English policie government, policy, from Middle French, government, regulation, from Late Latin politia

...

b : a high-level overall plan embracing the general goals and acceptable procedures especially of a governmental body

So, policy is a high-level plan to reach general goals / follow acceptable procedures.

Combine that with previous definitions and find that guidelines are outlines of acceptable procedures for accomplishing goals, while standards are models/examples of how things should be or typically are. This means that guidelines create standards, or ways to follow standards are described by guidelines. They are not synonyms, but different parts of the same concept: Doing 1. what everyone else does and 2. what should be done.

[Banana fanna fo fanna]

Uh...

OnlyMeat, if your statements are true, then why does the registry exist...?

[Dyndrilliac]

Uh...

OnlyMeat, if your statements are true, then why does the registry exist...?

My thoughts exactly, and what I've been trying to get across this whole time.

[DarkMinion]

This is the most useless argument I've seen in a great while.  It's all a matter of preference, nothing more.  Do yourselves a favor and drop it now before someone ends up getting banned.