[DanWaterworth]

If doing this is such a bad idea then why is it so easy?

[jlgreco]

If doing:

  #define BEGIN {
  #define END }

were such a bad idea, then why is it so easy?

[DanWaterworth]

Maybe the language is poorly designed.

[jlgreco]

Or maybe the connection between being able to do something and it being a good idea to do something is just in your head.

[DanWaterworth]

In my experience, making obviously bad things difficult or impossible improves reliability. This idea certainly resides within my cranial cavity, but that doesn't necessarily make it wrong.

[jlgreco]

How could:

  HashMap = HashTable = Map = Table = Dictionary = Hash

possibly not qualify as "obviously bad"? The only reason you've offered up is because it is easy...

[DanWaterworth]

I think this is fine. The obviously bad part is being able to remove/change constants, especially as these changes are global.