Subject: Re: On comparing apples and oranges (was: Q: on hashes and counting) From: Erik Naggum <erik@naggum.net> Date: 21 Oct 2000 00:08:48 +0000 Newsgroups: comp.lang.lisp Message-ID: <3181075728435884@naggum.net> * Erik Naggum <erik@naggum.net> | How does this require multiple language skills? Must an author be | able to write great literature in multiple languages? * Boris Schaefer <boris@uncommon-sense.net> | I don't think one has to know multiple languages, but I consider | learning multiple languages rewarding because one usually learns new | concepts together with the new languages. I also believe that | learning new concepts makes better programmers. | | The languages are not terribly important, but they are a good source | of inspiration. Let me repeat the question: How does this require multiple language skills? Yes, multiple languages have benefits. Are those benefits tied to multiple languages? I don't think they are. I think they are tied to curiosity, creativity, never being fully satisfied that you have found the best solution, and enough humility to listen to others and their ideas too It would _not_ be a good thing for a programmer to _have_ to learn multiple languages to be able to use new concepts, yet that's exactly how I see most new language come into existence: Some (relative) idiot can't bring himself to implement his concepts (which may well be brilliant and truly new) in an existing language, so he goes off discarding everything others spent years building so he can have his pet concept easily expressed. That's nuts, really. There are people who have to design their own alphabets or spellings in order to feel able to express themselves, but I think we label them "insane" rather than applaud them as "language designers". #:Erik -- I agree with everything you say, but I would attack to death your right to say it. -- Tom Stoppard