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The Age of the Essay 286

Posted by michael on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @03:21PM
from the 500-words-or-more dept.

bluFox writes "Paul Graham, has just published a new article on the English literature and role of Essays. It is not connected to lisp or languages or hackers for a change, but still feels like a continuation of his earlier articles."

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The Age of the Essay

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"still feels like a continuation"... (Score:5, Funny)

by tcopeland (32225) * writes: <tomNO@SPAMthomasleecopeland.com> on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @03:22PM (#10181482) Homepage

...can't beat that LISP humor!

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Well, that's ironic... (Score:3, Funny)

by Weaselmancer (533834) writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @03:29PM (#10181579)

...'cause I just published an essay on English literature and the role of articles.

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" Who cares about symbolism in Dickens? " (Score:1, Funny)

by slashpot (11017) writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @03:29PM (#10181581) Homepage

Beavis and Butthead.
That's who.
hay(na)ku!

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Re:Impact of Blogs (Score:4, Funny)

by Dark Lord Seth (584963) writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @03:31PM (#10181605) Journal

Blogs? Essays?
Oh, wait... You're referring to the 3% minority of blogs that are NOT about the cat, the latest Linkin Park song* or that cute "boi" at high school? Okay, carry on.
* -- I use that term lightly in this case...

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I hate essays (Score:3, Funny)

by grunt107 (739510) writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @03:31PM (#10181613)

To start, essays are an ill fit in my life.

The proof is that I am ignorant and apathetic: I don't know how to write and essay, and I don't care.

In conclusion, essays are not a favorite of mine.

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For the next article... (Score:5, Funny)

by pyrrhonist (701154) writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @03:37PM (#10181698)

In a follow-up article, he will claim [paulgraham.com] that, "Python programmers write better essays than Java programmers".

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Re:For the next article... (Score:3, Funny)

by Jerf (17166) writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @04:04PM (#10182017) Journal

I don't know about "better":
but I will bet they are better indented.
(BTW, python lover [google.com], so I get to say this. :-) )

python -c "import this"

seems appropriate, though it is not well indented.

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Great Essayists use Python (Score:5, Funny)

by Timesprout (579035) writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @04:14PM (#10182165)

Every great essayist I know, given a choice only writes essays in Python. English is for the common peasant, yes you can write an essay in it but it will be crap. Great essayists are far more productive when they use Python and if you advertise the fact you are writing in Python the standard of essayists you get will be much higher.

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Re:The problem I have with essays.... (Score:4, Funny)

by daeley (126313) * writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @04:19PM (#10182229) Homepage

1. the spelling and grammar is correct.

The spelling and grammar are correct. Mostly. Sorry, couldn't resist. ;)

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Re:The problem I have with essays.... (Score:3, Funny)

by rokzy (687636) writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @04:23PM (#10182283)

lol, I was treating "spelling and grammar" as a single thing thus "is".

isn't that allowed?

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Paul Graham is always right! (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @04:30PM (#10182376)

Hi, I'm Paul Graham.
Here are a few rules:
1. Everything I know is right
2. Everything I do is right
3. For responses to counter-arguments see #1 and #2.

Sincerly,
me.

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Re:"With the result..." (Score:2, Funny)

by e9th (652576) writes: <e9th.tupodex@com> on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @04:31PM (#10182383)

Thanks, Mr. Grammar Man, but at this time I am only accepting criticism from those who can spell "sentence" correctly.

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Re:Where's Arc, Paul? (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @05:58PM (#10183326)

For a language to stand some chance of success these days, it needs a lively developer community.

Never mind that, it needs to exist first!

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Re:The problem I have with essays.... (Score:3, Funny)

by ebyrob (165903) writes: on Tuesday September 07, 2004 @08:05PM (#10184729) Homepage

No. Go to your room.

Now if you'd put spelling/grammer, you might've gotten away wit it.

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Re:"With the result..." (Score:2, Funny)

by e9th (652576) writes: <e9th.tupodex@com> on Wednesday September 08, 2004 @04:58PM (#10195157)

Sorry. At this time I am only accepting criticism from those who can spell "complete" correctly.

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The Age of the Essay 286

The Age of the Essay More Login

The Age of the Essay

"still feels like a continuation"... (Score:5, Funny)

Well, that's ironic... (Score:3, Funny)

" Who cares about symbolism in Dickens? " (Score:1, Funny)

Re:Impact of Blogs (Score:4, Funny)

I hate essays (Score:3, Funny)

For the next article... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:For the next article... (Score:3, Funny)

Great Essayists use Python (Score:5, Funny)

Re:The problem I have with essays.... (Score:4, Funny)

Re:The problem I have with essays.... (Score:3, Funny)

Paul Graham is always right! (Score:1, Funny)

Re:"With the result..." (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Where's Arc, Paul? (Score:1, Funny)

Re:The problem I have with essays.... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:"With the result..." (Score:2, Funny)

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