Couldn't you make the same arguments for 'Z'++? If you're gonna do the one, do the other.

I figure that the rule of least surprise outweighs the fact that chr( ord('a') - 1) returns a backtick on most people's computers. ++ two equals three, -- two equals one; ++ 'b' equals 'c', -- 'b' equals '-1' Huhh??!!

Sure, in the grande scheme of things, what's the diff. In my book this rates right up there with elsif. Another one of Perl's quirky little roadblocks that make people think.

()-()
 \"/
  `