Grumpy-pants spoil-sport

[Ben Finney]

Steve D'Aprano <steve+python at pearwood.info> writes:

> On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:53 pm, Ned Batchelder wrote:
>
> > Would we be able to end these interminable debates if we just agree
> > that we all know how it works,
>
> If only that were true. Not everyone understands Python semantics (or
> for that matter, Java/Swift/language of your choice) and I still come
> across people confused by the pass by value/reference false dichotomy
> and which applies to <language of your choice>.

Ditto. Many of my workmates still suffer from the misapprehension that
“Python uses call-by-value semantics”, and many others suffer from the
misapprehension “Python uses call-by-reference semantics”.

No, we cannot just agree that we all know how it works. The well is
poisoned for a long time, and we must diligently undo the conceptual
damage for generations to come; and I know of no better way than
continuing to publicly discuss how both misapprehensions are wrong.

-- 
 \     “[H]ow deep can a truth be — indeed, how true can it be — if it |
  `\             is not built from facts?” —Kathryn Schulz, 2015-10-19 |
_o__)                                                                  |
Ben Finney