Xah's Edu Corner: What Languages to Hate

[Xah Lee]

Addendum:

Recently I ran into this egregious propaganda:
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/multimedia/video/obp/IntroducingPython.mpg

folks, take a look. This is a significant part how things move in the
computing community.

   Xah
   xah at xahlee.org
 ∑ http://xahlee.org/

Xah Lee wrote:
> What Languages to Hate
>
> Xah Lee, 20020718
>
> Dear lisp comrades and other concerned parties,
>
> First, all languages have equal rights. Do not belittle other languages
> just because YOUR favorite language is a bit better in this aspect or
> that. Different people have different ideas and manners of perception.
> Ideas compete and thrive in all unexpected fashions. Societies improve,
> inventions progress. Lisp may be a first in this or that, or faster or
> flexibler, or higher level than other languages old and new, but then
> there are other languages the like of Mathematica & Haskell & Dylan et
> al which ridicule lisps in the same way lisp ridicule other languages.
>
> Just because YOU are used to more functional programing or love lots of
> parenthesis doesn't mean they are the only and best concepts. The
> so-called Object Oriented programing of Java fame, or the visual
> programing of Visual Basic fame, or the logic programing of Prolog
> fame, or the format-stable syntax of Python fame, or the “one line of
> Mathematica equals ten to one thousand lines of lisp” of _A New Kind
> Of Science_ fame... all are parts of healthy competing concepts,
> paradigms, or directions of growth.
>
> The way some of you deride other languages is like sneering
> heterogeneousness. If unchecked, soon you'll only have your sister to
> marry to. Cute, but you do not want incest to become the only sex. Next
> time your superiority complex makes you sneer at non-lisp or other
> non-popular languages, remember this. It is diversity of ideas, that
> drives the welfare of progress.
>
> Now, there is one judgmental criterion, that if a language or computer
> technology fits it, then we not only should castigate at their
> missionaries, but persecute and harass the language to the harshest
> death. That is: utter sloppiness, irresponsibility, and lies. These
> things are often borne out of some student's homework or moron's
> dirty-work, harbored by “free” and wanton lies and personal fame,
> amassed thru ignorance.
>
> Of my short but diligent industrial unix computing experience since
> 1998, i have identified the following targets:
>
>     * C (and consequences like csh, C++)
>     * vi
>     * Perl
>     * MySQL
>     * unix, unixism, and things grown out of unix. (languages,
> protocols, philosophies, expectations, movements)
>
> In our software industry, i like to define criminals as those who cause
> inordinate harm to society, not necessarily directly. Of the above
> things, some of their authors are not such criminals or are forgivable.
> While others, are hypocritical fantastic liers selfish to the core.
> When dealing with these self-promoting jolly lying humble humorous
> priests and their insidious superficially-harmless speeches, there
> should be no benefit of doubt. Tell them directly to stop their vicious
> lies. Do a face-off.
>
> As to their brain-washed followers for example the not-yet-hard-core
> unix, C, or Perl coders rampant in industry, try to snap them out of
> it. This you do by loudly snapping fingers in front of their face,
> making it sound like a ear piercing bang. Explain to them the utter
> stupidity of the things they are using, and the harm to their brain.
> IMPORTANT: _teach_, not _debate_ or _discuss_ or falling back into your
> philosophical deliberating indecisiveness. I've seen enough criticisms
> among learned programers or academics on these, so i know you know what
> i'm talking about. When you see a unixer brainwashed beyond saving,
> kick him out of the door. He has became a zombie who cannot be helped.
>
> There are other languages or technology, by itself technically are
> perhaps mediocre but at least is not a egregious irresponsible hack,
> therefore does not deserve scorn, but sometimes it comes with
> overwhelming popular outrageous lies (euphemized as hype). Java is a
> example. For this reason, it is equally deserving the harshest
> treatment. Any loud proponents of such should be immediately slapped in
> the mouth and kicked in the ass in no ambiguous ways.
>
> Summary: all languages have equal rights. However, those utterly SLOPPY
> and IRRESPONSIBLE HACKS with promoter's LIES should be severely
> punished. It is these, that cause computing industry inordinate harm.
> Meanwhile, it is wrong to haughtily criticize other languages just
> because they are not your cup of tea. Now, please remember this and go
> do society good.
> ----
> This post is archived at:
> http://xahlee.org/UnixResource_dir/writ/language_to_hate.html
> 
>    Xah
>    xah at xahlee.org
>  ∑ http://xahlee.org/