In my experience, a lot of the reason mathematics is so inaccessible to the masses is the focus on obscure notional tricks, rather than the underlying reasoning.

I cannot express how strongly I agree with this. Of late, I've been trying hard to get into FP (several flavours) and the damndest thing is that, for the most part, I don't even understand the tutorial explainations of the basics of teh language, never mind the reference material.

The underlying assumption that using math notation to describe functional notation on the premise that everyone will understand, is functionally flawed :) And the way functional code is typically layed out (the 2d syntax) is a total barrier to overview.

Oh well. Just keep plugging away, maybe the pennny will drop.

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
Lingua non convalesco, consenesco et abolesco. -- Rule 1 has a caveat! -- Who broke the cabal?
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
The "good enough" maybe good enough for the now, and perfection maybe unobtainable, but that should not preclude us from striving for perfection, when time, circumstance or desire allow.

In reply to Re^9: Thread on Joel on software forum : "I hate Perl programmers." by BrowserUk
in thread Thread on Joel on software forum : "I hate Perl programmers." by techcode

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