I'm reluctant to extend this thread any further and reluctant to get in the cross fire of you high XP-monks, but I would like to make a point that may be of benefit to myself and others in the future in that it calls for a precedence.

If a monk (i.e., merlyn) is under attack from outsiders, be it an employer (like Intel), or a government (like Oregon), or other mere humans (a.k.a. computer illiterates), we should be able to post messages in this community to seek compassion and understanding.  A monk who posts a message about a personal, perl related problem is probably looking for friends to rally around him, friends who can truly understand his problem.  I think these kind of posts should receive only friendly responses.  If I think that the hurt monk is actually in the wrong, then I should keep it to myself.

When it comes to code issues, tell posters when they're wrong.  When it comes to concerns about life as a perl programmer, we don't need tough-love.

Again, as a matter of precedence, if I have a problem in the course of conducting myself as a perl programmer and feel missunderstood and hurt, I hope that I can post a message to this community for moral support.  It would be very hurtful if someone in this group said that I deserved it.  I would hate to have to live like merlyn must do and have to always balance supporting posts against condemning ones.