Re: `C-b' is backward-char, `left' is left-char - why?

[Eli Zaretskii]

> From: David Kastrup <address@hidden>
> Date: Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:56:53 +0200
> 
> Eli Zaretskii <address@hidden> writes:
> 
> > The idea is that <left> moves forward when the paragraph direction is
> > L2R, and <right> moves forward in R2L paragraphs.  But they both move
> > in the reading (a.k.a. "logical") order, which in Emacs means in the
> > direction of increasing character positions.  Moving in strict visual
> > order (i.e. always left or right on the screen) is also possible, but
> > less desirable, because that's not the order in which people read the
> > text.
> 
> Left/Right are for positioning the cursor.  They have nothing to do with
> the order people read the text in.

Evidently, they do.  At least many applications behave like Emacs
does.

> I don't want my mouse to change direction on RL text.

Not sure what "mouse direction" means here, and in what gestures.

> > But what you suggest is neither visual nor logical order,
> 
> Huh?  I suggest visual order.  Period.

My misunderstanding, sorry.

> forward-character and backward-character require more thinking.

Not if you actually read the text, because the movement is in the
reading order.