Attitude about new keywords

[Martin Maney]

Peter Hansen <peter at engcorp.com> wrote:
> Martin Maney wrote:
>> Y'know how, before you try ever writing Python, the indentation *is*
>> structure thing seems a little dicey?  
> 
> I never found the indentation in Python to be a problem when writing.

I believe that was what I implied, yes; certainly that was my
experience that led me to suggest this loose parallel.

> But *writing* Python is in no way what this issue is about, except
> from the point of view of avoiding common bugs.  Readability is
> the real concern (for this one aspect at least), and the reversal
> reduces readability inherently, I would argue.  If not inherently,

Okay, you can argue that if you like.  I guess I could have said it a
little more plainly, but what I found was that the (now passed-over)
form was in fact quite readable after a trivial amount of
acclimization; I had had similar reservations as yours before I
actually sat down and *tried* it, which was my point.

Holding yourself aloof and avoiding too much contact is a very
effective way to preserve your a-priori illusions.