On Tuesday, February 26, 2013 7:48:51 PM UTC-6, Terry Reedy wrote:
> On 2/26/2013 1:52 PM, Devin Jeanpierre wrote:
> > 
> > [...snip legit complaint...]
> > 
> Have you opened an issue, or checked for existing issue? I would be open 
> to the idea that entries like that for int should not be overly type 
> specific and imply that the defaults are the only possibilities.

Terry (with all due respect), do you /really/ expect that people have the time 
to open an issue on the bug tracker? Do you really think that everyone who uses 
python even knows about the bug tracker? Do you really think that people will 
believe that their opinion is worthy of placing on the bug tracker? Do you 
really?

I think most will just end up ignoring the docs and either be forced to give up 
on Python or look for documentation elsewhere. Now, you could react to that 
truth by saying:

 "Well, who cares! The docs are the docs and if people can't grok them then too 
bad for them because i think they are awesome."

Sadly (in actuality) it's too bad for *you* Terry (along with the many other 
people who maintain docs) when you ignore the many request for changes. 
Remember, if people just ignore the docs because of these abominations you and 
everyone else are basically wasting your time maintaining the docs! Do you 
understand this fact?

Terry Implies: "We will write the docs how *we* see fit, and to hell with your 
feeble misunderstandings. You are beneath us! *We* are the anointed ones. *We* 
know everything!"
 
Look i know your intentions are noble, and yes my wording was a bit 
theatrically unfair, but this is /exactly/ how people are interpreting your 
intentions Terry. Please don't become a zealot. Python will never be perfect! I 
can assure you.

And besides, is a bug tracker /really/ the place to voice the many legitimate 
problems concerning python's documentation or stdlib? Forgive me, but I thought 
bug trackers where for tracking ,umm... well, BUGS! 

This is why i mentioned the need for an official "PyWarts" (group or list) so 
these folks will have a platform to voice their frustrations. A very PUBLIC and 
very ACCESSIBLE and very WELL KNOWN platform. Because if IS NOT all three of 
these things, then it IS nothing.

But you cannot just hand them a microphone and then stick your fingers in your 
ears. You need to /listen/ carefully and try to place yourself into their 
shoes. I can assure you that the Python docs, and the language itself, could 
use some polishing. Stop taking these complaints personally and start listening 
with an objective ear; please?
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