In a small script someone wrote at work I saw the indirect pattern of new Object , instead of the more correct form of Object->new . When I inquired (okay, I said "WTF?!"), he said that he just copied the synopsis of a module. Oh, right.. some of the synopses (plural of "synopsis", bet you didn't know that!) still have some outdated syntax examples.

I'm not gonna write about how we should all update our PODs to remove syntax that hasn't been (or shouldn't have been, at least) written for the last 10 years, even though I should! I wrote to talk about the reply my co-worker got when he opened a ticket asking for the synopsis to be updated, per my suggestion.

He got the reply "what is this, the syntax police?" Perhaps half-jokingly, but still problematic, IMHO.

Police? No. Neighbors, family members and friends? Yes!

I wouldn't trust the police as far as I can throw a piano, and I don't even have a piano, so you can bet your ass I can't throw one very far! However, I do trust my friends and family (and maybe even my neighbors) to help me in a time of need, to advise me, to assist me, to care about me getting a better result. (Also, if you're in Texas, it's more likely that your neighbor will have much more firearm than your local police department)

How have some people become so bitter towards their community members when suggesting a correction? I'm not asking you for a kidney, I'm asking you to correct an example that presents code people shouldn't write anyway. You don't want to update the POD? Fine, but why would you be abusive towards someone who just wants to improve Perl? To make it a more understandable, correct language?

Since when are ambiguous syntax correction suggestions taboo? Soon I'll advise someone to use lexical variables and I'll get my head bitten off.

Sure, I'm a bit overreacting. I still think how we treat each other is important, and this is one way we can improve.