[Python-Dev] SIG: python-lang

[Greg Stein]

On Wed, 31 May 2000, Paul Prescod wrote:
> Greg Stein wrote:
> > [ The correct forum is probably meta-sig. ]
> > 
> > IMO, I don't see a need for yet another forum. The dividing lines become a
> > bit too blurry, and it will result in questions like "where do I post
> > this?" Or "what is the difference between python-lang@python.org and
> > python-list@python.org?"
> 
> Well, you admit that yhou don't read python-list, right?

Hehe... you make it sound like I'm a criminal on trial :-)

"And do you admit that you don't read that newsgroup? And do you admit
that you harbor irregular thoughts towards c.l.py posters? And do you
admit to obscene thoughts about Salma Hayek?"

Well, yes, no, and damn straight. :-)

> Most of us
> don't, most of the time. Instead we have important discussions about the
> language's future on python-dev, where most of the Python community
> cannot participate. I'll say it flat out: I'm uncomfortable with that. I

I share that concern, and raised it during the formation of python-dev. It
appears that the pipermail archive is truncated (nothing before April last
year). Honestly, though, I would have to say that I am/was more concerned
with the *perception* rather than actual result.

> did not include meta-sig because (or python-list) because my issue is
> really with the accidental elitism of the python-dev setup. If

I disagree with the term "accidental elitism." I would call it "purposeful
meritocracy." The people on python-dev have shown over the span of *years*
that they are capable developers, designers, and have a genuine interest
and care about Python's development. Based on each person's merits, Guido
invited them to participate in this forum.

Perhaps "guido-advisors" would be more appropriately named, but I don't
think Guido likes to display his BDFL status more than necessary :-)

> python-dev participants do not agree to have important linguistic
> discussions in an open forum then setting up the forum is a waste of
> time. That's why I'm feeling people here out first.

Personally, I like the python-dev setting. The noise here is zero. There
are some things that I'm not particularly interested in, thus I pay much
less attention to them, but those items are never noise. I *really* like
that aspect, and would not care to start arguing about language
development in a larger forum where noise, spam, uninformed opinions, and
subjective discussions take place.

Cheers,
-g

-- 
Greg Stein, http://www.lyra.org/