[hzzn]

I remember first reading this not long after it was originally written. This article made a significant impact on me, and contributed significantly to my maturation as a programmer.

I thought then (and still believe today) that the basic gist of this piece applies to a broad range of topics. People can get tribalistic and territorial about just about anything, software and sports don't even scratch the surface.

[hzzn]

Also, Perl sucks.

[hzzn]

I'm guessing from the down-votes that folks have taken my "Perl sucks" comment at face value. (Or maybe they just don't think I'm funny, which puts them in good company; my girlfriend doesn't think I'm very funny either.)

I suppose the joke would have been more obvious if I had added something along the lines of Python FTW SUCKAS! ;) :D ;).

[Herring]

They're modding you down because they're perl advocates. :)

[ramchip]

Implying that Python FTW SUCKAS! ;) :D ;) would have been upvoted more than what you posted is IMHO quite insulting to HN posters.

It has its up and downs, but overall HN is a bit more serious than Reddit & friends. Humour will only get voted up if it's somewhat original/clever.

[hzzn]

(I realize--hope?--that everyone else has moved on from this thread.)

"what you posted is IMHO quite insulting to HN posters"

If it is insulting even with my comment just above that praising an article that itself criticizes the very kind of tribalistic behavior I was ironically exhibiting, then maybe more of those voting should have read the article itself and taken its message to heart.