Are the anonymous cowards that are downvoting me doing it because it's technically incorrect, because security isn't that important, or something else entirely?

I hesitated quite a while about voting this node, so I didn't. But this update... sigh. That almost pushes it to -- land.

merlyn, you are a very, very smart guy. I like your books, I like your programming style. I admire your abilities with perl. But damnit, what is with the attitude? I don't think the votes were about the technical accuracy of your post - you were right, and most of us here know it. I feel pretty confident that if it were possible to check - something that SHOULD NOT be possible, by the way - you would find that they were all about attitude. Even those who may have voted it down because you're merlyn; well, why is that? Because you're often providing technically accurate answers? No, there are plenty who do that without getting hammered. So there must be some other reason.

Or would people prefer nicey-nice "blind leading the blind" like we get in alt.perl? Because that's what'll happen if you keep disrespecting some of us that have been around the block a few times.

To be blunt, when you start respecting others, you'll get some in return. BlueLines wrote code that you disagree with. Gee. I'm sorry. But instead of pointing to it and screaming "Cargo Cult! Cargo Cult!" why not give people the benefit of your superior experience and wisdom and say something like

BlueLines, this code will work, generally speaking, but CGI.pm will do a much better job. It will do the same job in a simpler fashion, and it avoids the following problems:

And then list the same points you did above? It's the same information. It's just as accurate; more so, since you didn't allow for the possibility that this code might work, if in a suboptimal way. And it doesn't take any longer to type; if anything, less, because you won't have to create pretty blue "UPDATE:" boxes to try to figure out where the problem is.

I'd gladly be willing to be called wrong on anything I post. If you think you have to protect someone else with a thin skin, you're damaging both yourself and them.

I'm not trying to protect BlueLines. I'm trying to protect the PerlMonks community specifically, and the Perl community in general. You can't code all the Perl in the world yourself. Which means others have to learn how. I prefer they learn how to code properly while also learning that their Elders in the community respect them.

Or at least, that not ALL of their Elders disrespect them.

(sigh) Why do I bother?

I wonder the same thing. But then I remember; because if I don't, then poor manners and disrespect win. And I see too much of that now. If you don't want to put up with posts like this one, or with --, then you have two options. Start treating people with respect, or shut up and code. Your choice. I'm sorry if that seems disrespectful or harsh, but merlyn, that's how it is. We aren't going to "respect" you fully until you learn that other people matter, too. If that's disrespect in your book, then feel free to vote this node --.

- email Ozymandias