Re: What's a fair thing?

[aquacade]

As a neophyte myself, may I first say THANK YOU to all the dedicated Monks out here! I want to relate my recent neophyte experiences so the Friars to Saints among you can re:remember (pun intended;) their first days learning Perl.

My biggest problem learning Perl has been trying to "think" in Perl when programming in Perl. Sure I can write C-like code all day in Perl and TMTOWTDI it works! For me, it's taken almost eight months of daily Perl coding (with weekly or monthly epiphany points and mind bending snaps) to now see more Perlish ways to code something. My "baby talking" in Perl as Larry has called it, has served me (and my client) well. I'm EXCITED, JAZZED, EXHUBERENT about understanding the Perlish way, the most efficient way to do something in Perl!

My progress has been greatly accelerated by the patience and kindness of others especially the Perl Monks! I've invested six re-readings of the first seven chapters of the third Camel book AND I started reading "Effective Perl Programming" based upon Nate O's recommendation at YAPC. I joined the Perl Monks after attending YAPC in June -- when I first heard about the site! Only now am I feeling like a Perl programmer, but I realize I have a long way to go still. Not everyone has the desire or time or money (to buy books) or daily coding in Perl to go faster than they are going. Some are very impatient (with themselves esp.) and want or need to go faster than they can run by themselves.

It's easy to lose yourself in service to others -- Don't go that far, unless it gives you joy! Even then, take time out for yourself! Your efforts are greatly appreciated and vital to building a stronger Perl Community.

Summation: Keep tending the Perl Monks vineyard: planting, pruning, grafting, and burning (but only when diseased and not bearing fruit). Please hear my humble plea my fellow Monks?