On 2014-02-11 06:30, Steven D'Aprano wrote: > You need to understand the difference between syntax and semantics. > This is invalid English syntax: > > "Cat mat on sat the." > > This is valid syntax, but semantically wrong: > > "The mat sat on the cat." > > This is both syntactically and semantically correct: > > "The cat sat on the mat."
And there are times you *do* want to do unconventional things with the language, and Python allows that: http://www.catster.com/files/600px-cat-hiding-under-rug.jpg because in that particular use case, it *is* semantically correct. > With Python's correct design, we have: > > spam # always, without exception, refers to the object > spam() # always, without exception, calls the object > > With your suggested design, we would have: > > spam # sometimes refers to the object, sometimes calls the object > spam() # always calls the object > > Ruby makes this mistake, and is a lessor language for it. One of the (many) reasons Ruby drives me nuts. -tkc -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
