I simply say "a slice in scalar context returns the last item".

If you (and others) confined yourselves to "simply saying": It would be more accurate to say that 'a slice' rather than 'a list' in a scalar context returns the last item., then this exchange would probably never have taken place.

Instead we get long, rambling, high-horse rants about how "there is no such thing as a list in a scalar context", when there patently is: print scalar(1,2,3);.

Which inevitably leads to further long, rambling tirades about how there are many different meaning of the term 'list' in Perl.

Using the term unqualified inevitably brings the language pedants crawling out of the woodwork to demonstrate their superior understanding, despite that most readers will:

  1. understand what the writer meant;
  2. intellectually gloss over any exceptional, technical inaccuracies that the unqualified use of the term might be subject to;
  3. understand that most of us neither want nor need to add a dozen levels of footnotes to our writings;
  4. nor want to bother trying to decipher the writings of those that do feel that need.
Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
"Too many [] have been sedated by an oppressive environment of political correctness and risk aversion."

In reply to Re^9: Scalar context of slice ("list") by BrowserUk
in thread Scalar context of slice by thenaz

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