From: MonkeeSage <MonkeeSage@...>
Date: 2008-01-03T12:05:00+09:00
Subject: Re: Zed Shaw - Ruby has dodged a bullet

On Jan 1, 1:07 pm, WesR <wes.ris...@gartner.com> wrote:
> On Dec 31 2007, 8:09 pm, James Britt <james.br...@gmail.com> wrote:
> ...
>
>
>
> > I liked the Ruby community better when it placed more emphasis on code
> > and less on personalities.
>
> Here, here!
>
> My own introduction to the sociology of Ruby was an episode where some
> individual thought that the wording of my question was a slight to
> Ruby, comparing it to Python, and attempted to start a long rant
> thread.
>
> Fortunately, wiser heads simply answered my question with facts and
> suggestions, and I got my task done.
>
> OTOH, I suppose those that there are two communities that need to be
> served as well the very task-oriented folks.
>
> Perhaps we could have
>
> comp.language.ruby.evaluation
>
> for those that want to compare notes on what makes Ruby better or
> worse than other language and, indeed, what are the definitions of
> better or worse?
>
> comp.language.ruby.preach_to_the_choir
>
> for those take emotional sustenance from participation in the
> community and want to co-sustain.

Eh, I think that's a bit extreme. Show me another programming language
community where you can have long meaningful discussions about the
semantics of language constructs and ideas for improvement and so on,
and also ask how to split a string every n characters, and get the
same kind friendly, helpful replies in either case. Even when folks
bump heads, it's usually done in a respectful way. The social dynamic
of the ruby community makes you want to plant trees and recycle and
group hug. And that counter-acts global warming. :)

Regards,
Jordan