Hashes vs arrays (was Re: RFC 84 (v1) Replace => (stringifying comma) with =>)

[Jeremy Howard]

Chaim Frenkel wrote:
> >>>>> "KH" == Kai Henningsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
> KH> Hashes and arrays, OTOH, really aren't different for people. The
concept
> KH> of an index needing to be a nonnegative number is a computer concept.
>
> I don't know about that. Good old PL/I had arbitrary ranges for array
> indices.
>
> Hmm, I feel an RFC coming on....
>
> my @arr :low(-32000) :high(+32000);
> my @population :low(1900) :high(2039);
>
> $population[1923] = 323000;
>
> How about
>
> my @population[1900:2039];
>
> Looks funny though.
>
I'm quite fond of the idea of negative array indices. But don't you touch my
precious C<:> operator, or I'll send in the hounds! I want its sanctity
recognised for the purpose of the notation in RFC 81:

  http://tmtowtdi.perl.org/rfc/81.pod

PS: Do you ever get the impression that some people will take every chance
possible to segue all threads into a discussion of their own RFCs? ;-)