Newbie: finding the key/index of the min/max element

[holger krekel]

On Wed, May 01, 2002 at 01:00:46AM +0200, Laura Creighton wrote:
> > Benjamin Han wrote:
> > 
> > > In my quest of becoming a "Pythonistas" (where does this word come from BTW
> > ?),
> > 
> > The term derrives from the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, the Communist rebels who
> > fought against the US-installed conservative Somoza dictatorship (and others)
> > .
> > The suffix is sometimes used to refere to any contrarian group, and in cases
> > simply any group.
> 
> That is simple ignorant American narrow-minded foolishness talking.
> Normally, I would take extreme great care to not say anything so 
> offensive, but I have a deep suspcion that James J Besemer is one
> of the 'can't take the heat' folks, and will learn to like a kinder
> and gentler place than the one he proposes to make for Raymond Hettinger
> if he finds out what it is like to live in the place he proposed.

one moment, please. You are making some valid points but i don't
see any sense in this 'eye for an eye' attitude. 
After all beeing ignorant about something and the general
wish to collaboratively advance is the reason we are subscribed 
on this list, isn't it? Why not explain your 'ista' origins to the 
*poster of the original question*? 

If many pythonistas would react to peoples (dumb) questions
and (ignorant) suggestions (including mine) within the scheme
of your posting, many of us might have quit programming alltogether 
instead of enjoying the wonders of python and its community.

Sure enough i share your general criticism on US-politics and
especially their foreign politics.  But i don't think that
*anything* is won if you try to hammer it into somebodies head.

regards,

    holger