Why and how "there is only one way to do something"?

[bonono at gmail.com]

Steve Holden wrote:
> It says that Python is already adequately expressive to allow it to
> solve all solvable problems: more briefly, "Python can already do
> everything". Hence there is no need to change the language.
>
> Of course I use this as a /reductio ad absurdum/ to try to show you the
> falsehood of your position. Sadly I fear this will simply result in
> another response which won't move the dialogue forwards.
Still don't quite understand what you intend to say.

> >
> >>Would you, say, remove "for" loops because they could be written as
> >>"while" loops. Don't forget the word "obvious" that appears in that
> >>catchphrase ...
> >>
> >
> > If every "for" usage can be done with "while" and that "while" is the
> > preferred way, why not ? As I said, the problem is that "obvious"
> > really is subjective in many case. And if it really is obvious, it
> > really is obvious and I doubt there would be that much disagreement. I
>
> It seems to me you either don't understand the words "obvious" and
> "preferably".
My intepretation of "obvious" is that 99 out of 100 people would
immediately see that "this is the way to do it". I am not sure your
"right meaning" of it.

> I believe I have also suggested that the phrases of the Zen aren't to be
> taken too literally. You seem to distinguish between "obvious" meaning
> "obvious to Steve but not necessarily to me" and "really obvious"
> meaning "obvious to both Steve and me". So where does the subjectivity
> creep in? And are you going to spend the rest of your life arguing
> trivial semantics?
Again, don't quite understand what you what to say.