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1. jancsi+(OP)[view] [source] 2025-12-06 20:12:40
> None of this is literally serious,

Exactly.

I remember someone telling me to RTFM when I posted a question on IRC back in the 90s. Luckily, I explicitly asked if they were serious. They responded of course not-- they were kidding!

Then they PM'd me with hidden link that had an image map of Perl wizards with whom I could schedule a free meeting and coffee to get started as a newbie. I was skeptical-- who cares about some random noob from the interwebs?!? Well, Perl, apparently. That face-to-face meeting left me with goosebumps that I feel to this day when I think back on it. It turned out to be an important confidence booster and my chief way into programming.

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that without Perl's focus on outreach I would never have served as president of Software Local 2142.

Like my wizard mentor told me when I tried to pay for the coffee that afternoon: Perl it forward!

replies(1): >>kstrau+23
2. kstrau+23[view] [source] 2025-12-06 20:43:07
>>jancsi+(OP)
I need to hear more about this Software Local 2142.
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