Python as an Object Oriented Programming Language

[Cliff Wells]

On Sat, 2002-12-21 at 07:10, Aaron K.Johnson wrote:
> In message <mailman.1040428892.2210.python-list at python.org>, Clif
> > I can understand this viewpoint and I do agree that Paul's response was
> > uncalled for.  That being said, resorting to puerile vulgarities* tends
> > to make you look bad rather than the person they were aimed at.  If you
> > must resort to such tactics, it's better to do it offlist.  A junior
> > high playground might be more appropriate (and you would undoubtedly be
> > perceived as 'cool' by the 7th graders for saying 'fuck').
> 
> I don't consider CLP a 'playground'. I just expect people to behave and treat
> each other decently. And, I should have ket my distance and cooled off a bit
> before responding. But no-one likes to be insulted. That's not cool, and that's
> more toward the 'playground' image you conjure. 

Well, if you can see and admit that, then you are not beyond hope ;)

> 
> > > I'm not a christian, so I don't 'turn the other cheek'. Anyone who hits
> > me gets
> > > hit back hard.
> > 
> > I don't see what being a christian has to do with anything.  I am not
> > religious by any definition and still try not to humiliate myself by
> > tossing around childish insults in public (* again).
> 
> No offense meant to any Christians...I just don't subscribe to not giving
> people a taste of their own nastiness. I admit it doesn't always work, though,
> especially when the individual continues being nasty.

It's usually more effective to let people make fools of themselves than
to try to do it for them.

> I'm glad you are a better person, who never loses his temper at being insulted,
> than I. Good for you.

Well, having a hot temper is all the more reason to control it.  I can
certainly attest to that.  It is especially easy to get angry when your
intelligence is insulted or brought into question.  All I'm saying is
it's best not to validate the insults <0.49 wink>.

> > Anyway, it is not uncommon for people new to the list to have some
> > sarcasm tossed their way and overreact.  I suspect that if you forget
> > about it and temper your future posts everyone else will as well.  As
> > for Paul, hopefully he'll learn how to express his surprise in a more
> > appropriate fashion so as to avoid offending people who know how to
> > swear.
> 
> I have no wish to continue 'overreacting'...perhaps if certain others choose
> not to step over a line of good behavior, it might help.

Undoubtedly, but it's also best to realize that there is little that can
be done to control others (especially via the Internet) and one can only
control oneself.  In the end, your composure in the face of ridicule has
a larger impact on how others perceive you (and your opponent) than
whether you "win" the argument or not (and in this case the argument has
thankfully been forgotten - I'm considering filtering out all threads on
Lisp - they seem to get nasty rather quickly.  Maybe that's why it is a
dying language: it seems to attract arrogant individuals.  Lisp: Look,
I'm So Pretentious).


Regards,

-- 
Cliff Wells, Software Engineer
Logiplex Corporation (www.logiplex.net)
(503) 978-6726 x308  (800) 735-0555 x308