http://qs321.pair.com?node_id=1116560


in reply to What Made the Perl Community Mean Spirited?

I don’t know what you’re talking about, either.   (Ditto “The Larry.”)

Y’know, first of all, we’re talking about “computer programmers” here, and that’s always an interesting and challenging group of people to work with.   Egos can be big, diplomacy can be low, bluntness a priority ... but, what does this have to do with “Perl?”   Nothing much, I think.

A broad-brush statement that is too broad to be useful or meaningful.   My experience with the Perl programming community (as encountered here at PM) is that they are very nice and knowledgeable folks; certainly not “mean-spirited” whatever that’s supposed to mean.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^2: What Made the Perl Community Mean Spirited?
by perlron (Pilgrim) on Feb 13, 2015 at 05:00 UTC
    if Larry has made such a comment as the OP says, id really like to see it and analyze its context.
    By mean-spirited, my personal take on that is that every programming community and forum has slight differences in the way they are structured and respond to questions and suggestions.

    The perl community at the core is largely a hacker community and they dont necessarily have the same objectives and approach in spreading the growth of the language as say a corporate entity, that would do everything they can in order to enable perl adherence.

    the perl community and perlmonks forum is i feel slightly different from other language communities. In fact id be surprised if there were a similar forum like perlmonks (considering its history,order,XP system and ways of working)

      Some people might say, and some other people might expect, that “I among all Monks” would have reason to agree with you ... but, I don’t.   Sure, I do wish that people around here had a bit more social graces sometimes, but all that’s beside the point.   PM is definitely a programmer’s community quite unlike any of the others that I periodically frequent ... but, it is also the best.   In terms of getting what you came here for ... high-quality answers, fast, and here’s a bunch of source-code too ... PM stands above.   Perl typically does not attract the interests of kids fresh out of school.   It does attract people who need to haul “revenue freight,” and who’ve probably been doing that for their employers for decades.

      And as far as what you say about “corporate entity,” the Perl language is probably earning a billion dollars around the world every day.   It’s rugged, robust, fast, versatile, and ... quirky.   Its CPAN contributed library is exemplary.   And corporations, among others, clearly don’t need to be told this.


        Sure, I do wish that people around here had a bit more social graces sometimes, but all that’s beside the point.
        No that is exactly the point. As a community we have to adopt a strategy where we are empathetic to the views of newcomers and minority view holders. Social Graces cannot be discounted just because somebody feels its not important for them.

        In terms of getting what you came here for ... high-quality answers, fast, and here’s a bunch of source-code too ... PM stands above.
        So what are you trying to imply, that other language forums dont have the same response quotient ?

        Perl typically does not attract the interests of kids fresh out of school. It does attract people who need to haul “revenue freight,” and who’ve probably been doing that for their employers for decades.
        And there are a multitude of reasons for that. Perl cannot be taught in curriculum except as part of the Web Programming clique. Thats how i got introduced to it.The only way to teach perl at the school level is to develop perl based apps for schools and colleges, and spread the message there. That is exactly what i have been trying to do for the past two years in my country.

        And as far as what you say about “corporate entity,” the Perl language is probably earning a billion dollars around the world every day.It’s rugged, robust, fast, versatile, and ... quirky.
        So is every other language. in fact Perl is the least in terms of adoption by corporates like Google. I have the facts to prove it.

        Its CPAN contributed library is exemplary.
        I think we are preaching to the choir here. Everybody knows the importance of CPAN and the contribution to the development of the Perl community. And corporations, among others, clearly don’t need to be told this.
        I have just incorporated a startup and we are finding it challenging to advocate perl as the choice of language to customers, but that's not the dissuading factor for us, its the lack of appreciation for anybody who does not conform to the majority view in any discussion.

        The Great Programmer is one who inspires others to code, not just one who writes great code