But that doesn't make count 0 if count was 4 as the OP's code had it.

print "\b\b\b\b" unless $count %= 4
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is closer but also executes the print statement for $count = 0, 8, 12, etc., and assigns 0 to $count for 8, 12, etc.

This works:

$count = 0, print "\b\b\b\b" if $count == 4;
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but I'd use a block here.

It doesn't matter whether $count is zero -- that's the point I was making. The only use the OP's code is making of $count is whether or not to print the four backspaces. Basically, he wants $count to go:
     0, 1, 2, 3, (emit "\b\b\b\b"), 0, 1, 2, 3 , emit, 0, ...
And you've fallen into the same trap of caring what the values are.

All you care about is the sequence:
     loop, loop, loop, loop (emit "\b\b\b\b"), loop, loop, ...
Which is exactly what modulo arithmetic gains you.

You can adjust whether you want the backspaces emitted after the first, second, third, or fourth iteration by changing what value you want to look for (which is what I was trying to get at when I wrote "you should look for == 1 or == 3 depending on what effect you want to achieve.")

Do not rebuke them with harsh words ... but rather lead them gently - with URLs - so that they may learn wisdom.

You're right; I was only looking at the if clause in isolation, not in context.