Guido's new method definition idea

[Erik Max Francis]

Russ P. wrote:

> Python already uses shorthand extensively. How about "def"? For people
> who are so worried about self-explanatory symbols, what the heck does
> that stand for? Default? Defeat? Defect? Defunct? Defer?

That's pretty silly; it's pretty obvious that `def` means "define," and 
even if that weren't obvious on its face, in context it's _really_ 
obvious.  `def f(): ...` certainly isn't going to be confused to a 
request to defecate on something called `f`, after all -- which is about 
as plausible as your other suggestions.

`$` as a shortcut for self, on the other hand, gives absolutely no 
mnemonic indication what it stands for, and users would be simply left 
guessing.

P.S. You're beating a long-dead horse here; your precise proposal has 
been brought up countless times on comp.lang.python and shot down every 
single time for the same reason.  It isn't going to happen.

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