I started this thread some aeons back, and if some of you think it is OT, sowwwy. but I just wanted to make a few comments...
I appreciate and feel encourage by Randal's comments, although I wouldn't judge the PerlGolfers so harshly. Obviously, Randal is in a distinctly different position than I am to be able to judge the "show-offers". Personally, I wouldn't write that kind of code, but I would like to be able to write that kind of code. John Gilmore-Baldwin mentioned that the best way to dissuade someone would be to laugh at them, and the best way to encourage them would be to show them how to do things better. I totally agree with that. I still think the llama book is one of the best books I have ever read... I feel embarrassed to say that I read it as a book... a novel. What Randal achieved there is enormous (By the way, I still have the pink second edition... one day I will get around to buying the latest blue one). That is how teaching, instructing should be... be able to excite interest in someone new to the subject, enough to make her/him want to learn it. Really love this list because the various opinions and thoughts mentioned on this thread show what I can learn by just "hanging around" Thanks, pk/
