[jilebedev]

> comments that don't add to the discussion

Atwood: > don't advocate learning to code just for the sake of learning how to code.

Shaw: > Never listen to people who try to make beginners feel like losers

The OP here is non sequitur at best and strawman at worst. Certainly not a model for constructive contribution to a conversation.

The entire affair from here seems to be a nearly-pointless dramatic back-and-forth between loud people. I read HN for critical insight, not bickering.

[zedshaw]

Actually, a strawman argument is quoting things out of context to make your point.

[rauljara]

No. A strawman is when you give your opponent an argument other than the one s/he is making and refute that instead of the real argument. In other words, you created a strawman and knocked him down, claiming victory while the real man remained standing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawman

[mitsche]

Quoting out of context is in there as well.