I have to agree with FoxtrotUniform - balance is key as both a programmer and employee. From my experience, knowing other languages as well as perl - has allowed me to view my applications and algorithems in a different light. As it has been said before in the Monastery, different languages allow a programmer advantages and disadvantages in certain situations. One may use perl in a backend process or use C++ to control a machine, etc. I don't believe that one should know a little in many languages or master only one language and reject other technologies; but rather grow as a programmer and an employee and use the best technology for the situation (if you're allowed the freedom...). Of course, that doesn't mean that one shouldn't learn perl fully and understand the complexities.. but one shouldn't reject other technologies in place of one language.