[Python-ideas] Add citation() to site.py

[Nikolaus Rath]

On Mar 19 2016, Nick Coghlan <ncoghlan-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> The reason I suggest that approach is that most (all?) of us aren't
> research scientists, so we have no idea what typical conventions are
> for citations, nor how those conventions are changing.

Which I believe makes it completely pointless to cite Python at all. As
far as I can see, nowadays citations are given for two reasons:

1. To give the reader a starting point to get more information on a
   topic.

2. To formally acknowledge the work done by someone else (who ends up
   with an increased number of citations for the cited publication,
   which is unfortunately a crucial metric in most academic hiring and
   evaluation processes).
   
In case of Python, an explicit citation thus adds nothing. Relevant
information is easily found by any search engine, and if Nick is right
than no one stands to gain anything from the citations either.


Best,
-Nikolaus


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