Why is Python popular, while Lisp and Scheme aren't?

[Carl Banks]

nandrats at mail.mdanderson.org wrote:
> I just joined the mailinglist and am a complete newbie to python,
> although I have experience in C++ programming.
> 
> Unfortunately, I feel quite irritated by the thread (Why is Python
> popular, while Lisp and Scheme aren't?) ? I thought that this is a
> python list where every kind of language related question can be
> posed. But this thread in my opinion is getting out of range.
> 
> When somebody considers language X to be superior to language Y,
> then please stick to it and do not try to convince people on a
> mailing list for language Y.
> 
> Besides, I really think that this is a very friendly list, but right
> now, I'm getting more emails about this thread than really relevant
> mails for a newbie!
> 
> It's probably not very diplomatic to complain about it as a newbie,
> but it is more intimidating than helping.


I'm afraid this is a fact of life on programming newsgroups.  I can
tell you that this repartee is mild compared to some of the language
flame wars I've seen (such as flame wars over whether Java has
"references" or "pointers," or on how to pronounce "Linux").

-- 
CARL BANKS