Cheers?

[Petras]

This question is more about Perl culture than Perl code, but oh well here goes!

I've noticed many Perl people sign off with "Cheers!" None of my Java friends did that. Is there a story behind it?

Thanks!
Petras

---

I should burn some of this code into firmware. Then I'd be a Chip Monk.

[davorg]

I don't think it's anything to do with the TV Show.

"Cheers" is a very common phrase in the UK. Originally it was something you said as you raised a toast to someone. Then it evolved into something that you said as you started on a drink that someone had bought you (meaning, I guess, something like "thanks and good health"). It then further evolved into a more general "good health and goodbye" as used at the end of a conversation. That's what it means at the end of an email.

--
<http://www.dave.org.uk>

"The first rule of Perl club is you do not talk about Perl club."
-- Chip Salzenberg

[BazB]

Indeed. I've been saying "cheers", on the end of emails and various online posts for quite some time.
Absolutely nothing to do with Perl, but very common here in the UK as davorg says.

Cheers,

BazB.

---

If the information in this post is inaccurate, or just plain wrong, don't just downvote - please post explaining what's wrong.
That way everyone learns.

[Anonymous Monk]

davorg got it right. It has nothing to do with a TV show. It's a simple valediction wishing someone good health or fortune.

None of my Java friends did that.

I rest my case.

[benn]

Oooh - this got me hooked for a good half-hour. It would appear that "Cheers as a salute or toast when taking a drink is British, 1919.". Opinion seems to be divided as to whether it's a contraction of "Good Cheer" or "Three Cheers" (as in 'Hip Hip Hooray' - a possible origin also of the British salutation "Pip Pip", used around the same time - see any PG Wodehouse :) )

Nowadays, I'd say it's probably one of the most commonly-used words in the UK, used for 'Thank you' and 'Goodbye' as well as being the 'standard' toast - I've even heard old guys in the pub mutter it to themselves before starting to sup their pint.

Chin chin,
Ben

[Anonymous Monk]

Hi. Parrot still could use your skills, shame to waste them looking up origins of words :).

[benn]

??? Ermmm, yes - an interest in etymology is always useful when writing Virtual Machines :) After a long day's coding, I turn to the dictionaries for comfort and light relief...

[Anonymous Monk]

I have used "Cheers" since before I learned Perl. I saw it on Usenet, thought it sounded friendly, and used it.

Since then I have heard that it started there as a joke. A bunch of people decided to use the name of their favorite TV show as a sign-off. Many people at the time liked Cheers. Other people saw that sign-off and adopted it. (The other TV shows didn't survive.)

No idea whether that is the real history, but it makes for a nice story. :-)

So, why would more Perl people use it than Java ones? I would guess that Perl culture did a lot of its evolving on Usenet, and so picked up a few Usenetisms.

Cheers,
Anonymous Distributer of Cheer

[dorko]

Petras,

I alternate between "Cheers," and "Cheers!" as a closing.

Personally, I picked it up from a bunch of Canadians I worked with. They used it in their e-mails. In my mind, it's most closely related to the drinking toast. I've never heard the T.V. thing mentioned by the Anonymous Monk, although I watched the show for quite some time.

Cheers!

Brent
-- Yeah, I'm a Delt.

[Abigail-II]

I've been around for a while in the Perl community, and I've never noticed it.

Abigail

[tachyon]

Hmmm. It's not really an Abigail-II kinda attitude Maybe you have been filtering it out subconciously?

cheers

tachyon

s&&rsenoyhcatreve&&&s&n.+t&"$'$`$\"$\&"&ee&&y&srve&&d&&print

[Anonymous Monk]

That doesn't seem like a very tachyon kinda attitude. Seems like a thinly veiled insult. I always thought he was very polite, must just be some poorly-chosen words :).