Experiences/guidance on teaching Python as a first programming language

[Roy Smith]

In article <20131217165144.39bf9ba1cd4e4f27a96893ca at gmx.net>,
 Wolfgang Keller <feliphil at gmx.net> wrote:

> C is just a kafkaesque mess invented by a sadistic pervert who must
> have regularly consumed illegal substances for breakfast. 

Don't be absurd.  C is a perfectly good language for the kinds of things 
it's meant for.  It lets you get down close to the hardware while still 
using rational flow control and program structure, and being reasonably 
portable.

There's very few mysteries in C.  You never have to wonder what the 
lifetime of an object is, or be mystified by which of the 7 signatures 
of Foo.foo() are going to get called, or just what operation "x + y" is 
actually going to perform.

If you maim yourself with a razor-sharp chisel, do you blame the chisel 
for being a bad tool?