Re:The Programmer Identity Crisis
by Terr_ on Tuesday October 21, 2025 @01:34PM
(#45658777)
> That's simply not true, and pointlessly derogatory.
That same critique should first be aimed at the topmost comment, which has the same problem plus the added guilt of originating (A) a false dichotomy and (B) the derogatory tone that naturally colors later replies.
> It's reasonable for even good writers to not know how or not care
The text is true, but in context there's an implied fallacy: If X is "reasonable", it does not follow that Not-X is unreasonable.
More than enough (reasonable) real humans do add em-dashes when they write. When it comes to a long-form blog post—like this one submitted to HN—it's even more likely than usual!
> the extra keystrokes
Such as alt + numpad 0150 on Windows, which has served me well when on that platform for... gosh, decades now.
That same critique should first be aimed at the topmost comment, which has the same problem plus the added guilt of originating (A) a false dichotomy and (B) the derogatory tone that naturally colors later replies.
> It's reasonable for even good writers to not know how or not care
The text is true, but in context there's an implied fallacy: If X is "reasonable", it does not follow that Not-X is unreasonable.
More than enough (reasonable) real humans do add em-dashes when they write. When it comes to a long-form blog post—like this one submitted to HN—it's even more likely than usual!
> the extra keystrokes
Such as alt + numpad 0150 on Windows, which has served me well when on that platform for... gosh, decades now.