[Help] [Newbie] Require help migrating from Perl to Python 2.7 (namespaces)

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Wed, 26 Dec 2012 20:07:53 -0800, Rick Johnson wrote:

> My specific point is that the English word "variable" is unambiguous

I'm sorry, do you mean "variable" the noun, or "variable" the adjective?

If you mean the adjective, do you mean something which naturally changes, 
in the sense that the amount of rainfall is naturally variable, or a 
collection of independent things which individually are constant but 
collectively vary, such as the heights of children in a classroom are 
variable?

If you mean the noun, do you mean a factor which is likely to vary, as in 
"the weather is one variable to consider", or a quantity that is capable 
of taking on a multitude of values, or a symbol which represents a fixed 
but unknown quantity?

If you're going to claim that an English word is unambiguous, you 
probably should choose an example with only one meaning.


> we should NEVER
> re-interpret existing words (in an illogical manner) whilst transforming
> them into specific disciplines.

I'm sorry yet again, did you mean "discipline" in the sense of 
punishment, "discipline" in the sense of learning by instruction and 
exercise, "discipline" in the sense of submission to authority, or 
"discipline" in the sense of a field of study?


I am sorry[1] to ignore the main points of your post in favour of 
attacking the very foundations of your argument, but if you build your 
argument on counter-factuals (assumptions about English language which 
are not, in fact, true) then even if your reasoning is utterly logical in 
every step, the conclusion is still dubious.



[1] Ah who am I kidding?

-- 
Steven