pg wrote: I cannot understand why tech discussion should be suddenly turned into personal attacks.

pg, I can understand where you are coming from, but I do have to disagree with it. I've gotten to know merlyn rather well and while years ago I had your opinion of the situation, I realized that it simply wasn't accurate. Read carefully through the things that merlyn posts here. He does not make personal attacks. (though his criticism of code can be quite blunt.)

A personal attack is where someone takes issue with me. However, if someone takes issue with the quality of my work, that's not a personal attack. There's quite a distinction between criticizing a person and criticizing what that person produces. In reading through the thread you referenced, I see no indication of a personal attack. Further, you wrote that you didn't know why merlyn got mad, but I saw no indication of his getting mad.

I don't know, maybe I am just used to his style. I know him both through this site and on a personal level. He's not a bad guy, but he's quick to point out errors with code. Further, he is ridiculously prolific. He posts here, he posts to newsgroups, he writes articles, he helps people on IRC and he runs a Perl consulting company. There is simply no way I could keep up with his output. If he's terse in pointing out that there's a problem with something it's because there are so many problems that he's pointing out!

Admittedly, you do not know me, but I promise you that while merlyn may rub some people the wrong way, I've learned that I ignore what he says at my own peril. He is very, very good at what he does and he is usually not wrong. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and when I hear him say things that seem odd, I take the time to consider what he is saying and why he is saying it and I find that I have learned something new.

Cheers,
Ovid

Update: and borrowing a quote from a Sys Admin Magazine article: "If someone is trying to save your life, cooperate." :)

New address of my CGI Course.
Silence is Evil (feel free to copy and distribute widely - note copyright text)

In reply to merlyn is not an ogre by Ovid
in thread A little thought about kindness by pg

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