merits of Lisp vs Python

[Pillsy]

Pascal Costanza wrote:
> Pillsy wrote:
[...]
> > When I first read PCL (which was my introduction to Lisp) I thought
> > LOOP was really neato. Once I actually started using it for things that
> > weren't so simple, I began to really hate it. I think that having a
> > specialized mini-language for iteration is a superb idea, but I don't
> > think LOOP is it.

> > That being said, there's a portable alternatives out there that I like
> > way better, and I still use LOOP for dashing stuff off one-liners at
> > the REPL.

> If you hate LOOP then you don't have to use it.

Indeed, I *don't* use it except for the simplest things.

> There's an important lesson to learn here: Not all language constructs
> are supposed to be loved by everyone. ;)

Especially in Common Lisp, where it's possible to have replacements
that integrate with the rest of the language as seamlessly as the
original feature they're replacing.

I don't love CL because its devoid of features I hate. I love it
because it provides so many great ways of getting around the features I
hate. If it didn't have features I hate, I might actually like it less,
because I wouldn't have anything to bitch about on USENET. :)

Cheers,
Pillsy