[Bug-readline] Please disable the audible bell by default, to avoid making people in crowded offices and elsewhere hate *nix

[Jason Spiro]

Thanks for your work on readline.  I like it a lot, except for one
thing.  By default, it makes an audible beep in many cases, like when
I try to move or backspace past the beginning of the line, or when I
press <Tab> and there are no completions or multiple completions.  It
would be great if you could please change the default either:

1.  To never make any audible or visible bell.  (This would be best.)

2.  Or to use a visible bell only.  (This would be an acceptable alternative.)

If you do not change the default, some *nix newbies may decide to
avoid command line apps, and to stick to less-powerful GUI apps
instead.  Also, the people around them may decide they will never use
*nix, since it makes such unpleasant noises.  Here are three reasons
why they may decide that:

A.  Some users find that the PC speaker beep is harsh and unpleasant to the ear.

B.  Most apps beep only when something very bad happens.  But readline
beeps even when nothing serious happened.  The amount of beeping that
readline causes may make people uncomfortable.

C.  Some people use readline at a class in school or in the office.
Ten or more people may hear each beep.  The feeling of having
distracted others may make users even more uncomfortable.

You might say, "So users should disable the beep themselves".  They
should, but they may not bother.  We should help out the users who
don't bother by changing the default.

You might say, "The audible bell is useful to help users notice they
are trying to move off the line".  But they will notice this anyway
without an audible beep.

You might say, "The audible bell is useful to help users realize there
are no completions".  Yes, but you could instead show a more-helpful
message like "There are no available choices that start with
'gnomw-term' on the bottom line of the screen" instead.

You might say, "The audible bell is useful to help users realize their
computer notice there are no completions".  Yes, but you could instead
show a more-helpful message "There are 3 choices.  Press the
completion key again to see a full list." on the bottom line of the
screen instead.

Regards,
Jason Spiro