[Python-ideas] Keyword only argument on function call

[Chris Angelico]

On Sun, Sep 9, 2018 at 3:37 PM, Anders Hovmöller <boxed at killingar.net> wrote:
>
>> You have carefully avoided explicitly accusing me of making a straw man
>> argument while nevertheless making a completely irrelevant mention of
>> it, associating me with the fallacy.
>
> I read that as him accusing you very directly.
>
>> That is not part of an honest or open discussion.
>>
>> Anders made a proposal for a change in syntax. I made a prediction of
>> the possible unwelcome consequences of that suggested syntax. In no way,
>> shape or form is that a straw man.
>
> You kept saying I was “forcing” to use the new syntax. You said it over and over even after we pointed out this was not the actual suggestion. This is classic straw man.
>

Creating a new and briefer syntax for something is not actually
*forcing* people to use it, but it is an extremely strong
encouragement. It's the language syntax yelling "HERE! DO THIS!". I
see it all the time in JavaScript, where ES2015 introduced a new
syntax {name} equivalent to {"name":name} - people will deliberately
change their variable names to match the desired object keys. So
saying "forcing" is an exaggeration, but a very slight one.

ChrisA