even when the primary, and often only, purpose is to effect a side-effect.

Yes. From the docs (perlsyn):

The only kind of simple statement is an expression evaluated for its side effects.

So true. Take "Hello, world!". The computed effect (1 upon success) is dropped, an to have that silly greeting on the terminal - is the side-effect.

I am here as and for my side-effects...

In reply to Re^4: The Emperor's New Clothes by shmem
in thread The Emperor's New Clothes by Anonymous Monk

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