[meta] Re: Command Languages Versus Programming Languages

On 06.04.2024 11:00, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:

On Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:35:37 -0400
Alan Bawden <alan@csail.mit.edu> wrote:

>
A normal programmer would write something like:
[...]
I.e., she would allow herself to use spaces and newlines, and just

 
ITYM "he" would allow HIMself.

That topic is heated (also in the country where I'm living in[*]).

The solution might be to take out the personal aspects in writing.
(BTW; a "normal programmer" is already a problematic formulation;
but that's not the central issue here.)

The "she would allow herself" could be formulated in two forms, a
plural form ("we would allow ourselves") or a non-personal form
("spaces or newlines could be used"). - Note I'm not a native EN
speaker, so please correct and inaccuracy in my formulations. But
I'm sure that such formulations should be possible in some form
also in English.

Anyway, let's not carry such senseless battle into out posts.

Janis

[*] Here the municipal government of our city has rules to foster
speech and writing that (by its form) includes "the two" genders.
But these rules don't cover a third gender we officially have to
support, a non-male/female gender form ("diverse"), that are now
acknowledged by the laws of our country (thus discriminating the
third gender people by city-rules, by now mentioning [only] two.
And recently the state my city is part of forbids writing in forms
that are not correct language, thus effectively forbidding these
gender forms. Incompatible country, state, and city laws and rules;
it's crazy!