From: Gavin Sinclair <gsinclair@...>
Date: 2004-04-30T15:13:48+09:00
Subject: Re: How's ruby compare to it older brother python

Trevor wrote:
> I agree that flaming the question is not appropriate and its also bad
> for the Ruby community in general.  One of the things that attracted to
> me to the Ruby language was the open-mindedness of the list members and
> the friendliness of the Ruby community.

That has not changed.

> [...] It saddens me to see the same thing [intolerance]
> starting to happen on the Ruby list.

It is not happening.

> I do not agree that this topic is not appropriate to discuss.  This is a
> topic that ought to be rehashed periodically because the are many
> possible comparisons that can be made between Python and Ruby.

Yes, but "periodically" does not mean every month, and people are on good
ground to object to it.  Repition becomes frustrating.  List crowding
dilutes quality.  And most of all: cross-posting is bad etiquette. 
Especially when the posting shows no evidence of any research at all. 
Googling "python vs ruby" brings a whole page (and probably more) of
matches.  Why not read those and then ask a more interesting, targetted
question?

Do you seriously believe that objecting to this inconsiderate approach is
out of order?  (I certainly didn't see anybody "flaming the question". 
Must we really equate considered and reasonable objection with flaming?)

> It is possible to compare the languages with respect to speed,
> power, syntax, libraries, community, philosophy, readability,
> beauty etc.  [...]

I completely agree (with that and the statements I snipped).  I enjoy
reading language comparisons.  So I go and read them, rather than spamming
newsgroups with the same old questions.

> [...] I think the real reason that people don't like this sort of
> question is that they feel it is really an attack on the Ruby
> language which they take personally.

There is frequent discussion of Ruby and other languages on this list. 
I've learned heaps about other languages right here.  It is tolerant,
intelligent, and *targetted* discussion.  The most common attitude
displayed to people asking for comparisons is "try both languages and see
what you like".  Ruby zealotry has little or no place here.

I don't believe anybody has displayed behaviour worth criticising, except
for the original poster.  Most people have breached netiquette at some
point, so it is perhaps understandable.  But no less frustrating for that.

Cheers,
Gavin