From: Albert Schlef <albertschlef@...>
Date: 2009-12-31T19:35:18+09:00
Subject: Re: Why can't I use "or" here?

Phillip Gawlowski wrote:
> On 31.12.2009 10:51, Albert Schlef wrote:
>> In other words, why can I do this:
>>
>>    puts 999
>>
>> But I *can't* do this:
>>
>>    puts (123 if true)
> 
> Because puts takes an argument, not a statement (basically).

Then why can I do this?

    puts (123 or true)

Are you going to tell me that "123 or true", unlike "123 if true", 
*isn't* a statement?

If "123 or true" isn't a statement, then it's a simple expression. And 
then I would be able to do:

   puts(123 or true)       # Note: no space before parentheses

But I can't! So it follows that "123 or true" too is a statement.

Let me sum it up:

   puts (123 if true)    # Syntax error.

   puts (123 or true)    # Works.

Although both are "statements".

>
> The problem with computers is that they are stupid. It is obvious, to
> you, that you *mean* "output 123, if 123 is true".

No, no, no. By `puts (123 if true)` I mean: output the result of `123 if 
true`.
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