Addendum: Recently I ran into this egregious propaganda: http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/multimedia/video/obp/IntroducingPython.mpg
folks, take a look. This is a significant part how things move in the computing community. Xah [EMAIL PROTECTED] ∑ http://xahlee.org/ Xah Lee wrote: > What Languages to Hate > > Xah Lee, 20020718 > > Dear lisp comrades and other concerned parties, > > First, all languages have equal rights. Do not belittle other languages > just because YOUR favorite language is a bit better in this aspect or > that. Different people have different ideas and manners of perception. > Ideas compete and thrive in all unexpected fashions. Societies improve, > inventions progress. Lisp may be a first in this or that, or faster or > flexibler, or higher level than other languages old and new, but then > there are other languages the like of Mathematica & Haskell & Dylan et > al which ridicule lisps in the same way lisp ridicule other languages. > > Just because YOU are used to more functional programing or love lots of > parenthesis doesn't mean they are the only and best concepts. The > so-called Object Oriented programing of Java fame, or the visual > programing of Visual Basic fame, or the logic programing of Prolog > fame, or the format-stable syntax of Python fame, or the “one line of > Mathematica equals ten to one thousand lines of lisp” of _A New Kind > Of Science_ fame... all are parts of healthy competing concepts, > paradigms, or directions of growth. > > The way some of you deride other languages is like sneering > heterogeneousness. If unchecked, soon you'll only have your sister to > marry to. Cute, but you do not want incest to become the only sex. Next > time your superiority complex makes you sneer at non-lisp or other > non-popular languages, remember this. It is diversity of ideas, that > drives the welfare of progress. > > Now, there is one judgmental criterion, that if a language or computer > technology fits it, then we not only should castigate at their > missionaries, but persecute and harass the language to the harshest > death. That is: utter sloppiness, irresponsibility, and lies. These > things are often borne out of some student's homework or moron's > dirty-work, harbored by “free” and wanton lies and personal fame, > amassed thru ignorance. > > Of my short but diligent industrial unix computing experience since > 1998, i have identified the following targets: > > * C (and consequences like csh, C++) > * vi > * Perl > * MySQL > * unix, unixism, and things grown out of unix. (languages, > protocols, philosophies, expectations, movements) > > In our software industry, i like to define criminals as those who cause > inordinate harm to society, not necessarily directly. Of the above > things, some of their authors are not such criminals or are forgivable. > While others, are hypocritical fantastic liers selfish to the core. > When dealing with these self-promoting jolly lying humble humorous > priests and their insidious superficially-harmless speeches, there > should be no benefit of doubt. Tell them directly to stop their vicious > lies. Do a face-off. > > As to their brain-washed followers for example the not-yet-hard-core > unix, C, or Perl coders rampant in industry, try to snap them out of > it. This you do by loudly snapping fingers in front of their face, > making it sound like a ear piercing bang. Explain to them the utter > stupidity of the things they are using, and the harm to their brain. > IMPORTANT: _teach_, not _debate_ or _discuss_ or falling back into your > philosophical deliberating indecisiveness. I've seen enough criticisms > among learned programers or academics on these, so i know you know what > i'm talking about. When you see a unixer brainwashed beyond saving, > kick him out of the door. He has became a zombie who cannot be helped. > > There are other languages or technology, by itself technically are > perhaps mediocre but at least is not a egregious irresponsible hack, > therefore does not deserve scorn, but sometimes it comes with > overwhelming popular outrageous lies (euphemized as hype). Java is a > example. For this reason, it is equally deserving the harshest > treatment. Any loud proponents of such should be immediately slapped in > the mouth and kicked in the ass in no ambiguous ways. > > Summary: all languages have equal rights. However, those utterly SLOPPY > and IRRESPONSIBLE HACKS with promoter's LIES should be severely > punished. It is these, that cause computing industry inordinate harm. > Meanwhile, it is wrong to haughtily criticize other languages just > because they are not your cup of tea. Now, please remember this and go > do society good. > ---- > This post is archived at: > http://xahlee.org/UnixResource_dir/writ/language_to_hate.html > > Xah > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ∑ http://xahlee.org/ -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
