Brandon's abrasive style (was Re: What's better about Ruby than Python?)

[Brandon J. Van Every]

Cliff Wells wrote:
>
> The major problem appears to be your mode of communication.  At first
> I took your questions seriously, then I began to think you were
> trolling (and a rather clever troll at that), and finally I've come
> to the conclusion that you're not trolling, rather merely arrogant and
> abrasive.

Bingo!  Guilty as charged.  And I get more and more abrasive the more people
call me a troll.  As do most people who aren't actually trolling.

I ask tough questions about Python vs. other languages and platforms.  Some
people can't handle it.  Maybe they'd handle it if I diplomatically sugar
coated it, but I'm not going to.  Things to irritate the "Brandon's a troll"
crowd some more:

- Python is not a good language for low-level 3D graphics problems.  C++ is
better.
- Python isn't a rapid prototyping godsend for every problem out there.
- GUI and tools support can end up being more important than language
niceties.
- Microsoft C# and .NET are strategic threats to Python's prosperity and
vitality, if not survival.
- Pythonistas should consider trying to eat Java's lunch, because they
aren't going to eat Microsoft's lunch.
- Ruby has some mindshare among people with knowledge of Python.
- Yet unnamed languages are capable of taking Python's place on the food
chain.
- You have to promote your language, grow its market share, to prevent that
from happening.

These analyses are called "sanity" in the Windows world.  It's Reality On
The Ground.  It's really odd to come to a developer community where people
are insular and freak out about these kinds of pronouncements.  It makes
Windows people wonder if Python people are capable of industrial relevancy.
Fortunately, I was pointed to the marketing-python list and I've discovered
that not all Python crowds are the same.

The rest of you: wake up!  Smell the Windows!

-- 
Cheers,                         www.3DProgrammer.com
Brandon Van Every               Seattle, WA

20% of the world is real.
80% is gobbledygook we make up inside our own heads.







> You seem to get a large number of people who perceive you
> as
> a troll.  While I no longer believe this to be true, the sheer number
> of people in so many different newsgroups should perhaps indicate to
> you
> that you need to take a break from your local D&D group and socialize
> a bit.  You are lacking some fundamental skills in this area.  You're
> clearly intelligent and have in fact brought up some interesting
> topics, but your lack of tact tends to take them off-track rather
> quickly.
>
> For instance, do you really think publicly announcing that someone is
> in your killfile hurts their feelings or somehow vindicates you?
> That's rather pathetic, but makes sense given the source.  I'd
> venture that mentality is most common at the pre-teen level of social
> interaction.
>
>
> Regards,