> 'Some people, when confronted with a problem, think "I > know, I'll use regular expressions." Now they have two > problems.' - Jamie Zawinski.
This statement is one of my favorite examples of "powerful propaganda", which has scared more folks away from regexps than even the "Upright Citizens Brigade" could manage with their "Journey through the center of gas giant #7" and it's resulting "aggravated assault" on American coinage! I wonder if Jamie's conclusions are a result of careful study, or merely, an attempt to resolve his own cognitive dissonance? Of course, if the latter is true, then i give him bonus points for his use of the third person to veil his own inadequacies -- nice Jamie, *verrrrry* nice! "Rick it sounds like you're accusing Jamie of cowardice resulting in "sour grapes"?" Indeed! The problem with statements like his is that, the ironic humor near the end *fortifies* the argument so much that the reader forgets the limits of the harm (quantified as: "some people") and immediately accepts the consequences as effecting "all people who choose to use regexps", or more generally, accepts the argument as a "universal unbounded truth". Besides, who would want to be a member of a group for which the individuals are too stupid to know good choices from bad choices? HA, PEER PRESSURE, IT'S A POWERFUL THING! But there is more going on here than just mere "slight of forked tongue" my friends, because, even the most accomplished propagandist cannot fool *most* of the people. No, this type of "powerful propaganda" only succeeds when the subject matter is both cryptic *AND* esoteric. For instance, in the following example, i contrive a similarly ironic statement to showcase the effects of such propaganda, but one that covers a subject matter in which laymen either: already understand, or, can easily attain "enough knowledge" to appreciate the humor. ############################################################ # Ironic Twist # ############################################################ # Some diabetics, when confronted with hunger, think "I # # know, I'll eat a box of sugar cookies." -- now they have # # two problems!' # ############################################################ "Wait a minute Rick! After eating the cookies the diabetic would not longer be hungry, so how could he have two problems? Your logic is flawed! Au Contraire! Read the statement carefully, I said: "When *CONFRONTED* with hunger" -- the two problems (and the eventual side effect) exist at the *MOMENT* the diabetic considers eating the cookies. PROBLEM1: Need to eat! PROBLEM2: Cookies raise glucose too quickly In this example, even a layman would understand that the statement is meant to showcase the irony of resolving a problem (hunger) with a solution (eating a box of cookies) that results in the undesirable outcome of (hyperglycemia). And while this statement, and the one about regexps, both contain a "factual underlying truth" (basically that negative side effects should be avoided) the layman will lack the esoteric knowledge of regexps to confirm the factual basis for himself, and will instead blindly adopt the propagandist assertion as truth, based solely on the humorous prowess of the propagandist. The most effective propaganda utilizes the sub-conscience. You see, the role of propaganda is to "modify behavior", and it is a more prevalent and powerful tool than most people realize! The propagandist will seek to control you; he'll use your ignorance against you; but you didn't notice because he made you laugh! WHO'S LAUGHING NOW? -- YOU MINDLESS ROBOTS! "But what's so evil about that Rick? He scared away a few feeble minded folks. SO WHAT! I argue that we are all "feeble minded" in any subject we have not yet mastered. His propaganda (be it intentional or not) is so powerful that it defeats the neophyte before they can even begin. Because it gives them the false impression that regexps are only used by foolish people. Yes, i'll admit, regexps are very cryptic, but once you grasp their intricacies, you appreciate the succinctness of there syntax, because, what makes them so powerful is not only the extents of their pattern matching abilities, but their conciseness. -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list