[Edu-sig] re: Types and true division (was Re: strange output)

Arthur ajs@ix.netcom.com
Thu, 10 Oct 2002 09:34:09 -0400


>
> Seriously, Art, it sounds like you struggled with a problem and are
> proud that you overcame it, and now you want others to have the same
> experience.

Actually I haven't overcome it.  I understand barely enough about numeric
typing to get by for what I do.  I am still lost in most of the
conversations about the intricacies.
>
> I'll tell you what.  The school of hard knocks sucks.  There are
> plenty of *interesting* problems in programming to break your head on,
> there's no need to surrect artificial barriers.  Save some brain cells
> to think about an efficient sorting algorithm or a generational
> garbage collector (never mind that Python comes with these built-in as
> well).
>
Well we do have a difference of perspective I think.  Seems to me anybody in
the least bit serious about learning to program getting "stuck" on 1/2 = 0
isn't going too far beyond that anyway.

Maybe I am missing your point.  To me this isn't a *problem* of programming,
it is just programming.

> > Despite the fact that someone who had been through the experience
> > was trying to say he thought it would - me.  I can tell you that
> > Bruce Sherwood *still* understands little about Python.  And Randy
> > Pausch's true interest in Python and education is well indicated, in
> > my mind, but the level of his participation on this list.
>
> Bullshit.

Can you say more?  Does Bruce Sherwood know much about Python?  Was he even
a qualified newbie when he look up the mantle of an "expert" on how Python
should be configured  Seems to me that all experiemnts need a control.  Even
if doing an "experiment" in one's head, one needs to understand the
implications of the control group side.

No Sherwood did and does *not* understand Python well enough to be in a
position to open his mouth in an informed way on anything connected to
Python.  Though he does leave the field open for folks like me to get vocal.
I promise you I can Python the guy under the table.

I have said enough of what I think I about Randy Pausch's project.  Probably
that is where our violent disagrement lies.

The fact that I see nothing "technical" in the issues involved in our
different takes, and am willing to contend with you as an equal on the
subject, seems to make you a bit meshuga.

>
> > And with that, hopefully I will find myself able to go silent on the
> > issue of "/".
>
> I dare you.

Got me.

>
> > Copy of course being a whole other story.
>
> "I came here for an argument."
>
> "Oh, I'm sorry, this is abuse."
>
> 'Nuff said.

I think you notoriously do not take disagreement well.  I phrased and have
been trying to phrase things as carefully as I can to try *not* to sound
abusive  - while at the same time allowing myself to express my thoughts
clearly on issues relevant to the subject line of this list  Recently, at
least, I have *absolutely nothing* to apologize for.

Art