Re: How to quote a list of functions?

[John Mastro]

>> It's true that in Emacs Lisp, unlike in e.g.
>> Common Lisp, there's no runtime difference between
>> 'foo and #'foo. However, the inspiration to "stop
>> and think" is arguably part of the benefit at the
>> beginning, because it helps you sharpen your
>> intuitive sense of "symbol-as-symbol" vs
>> "symbol-as-function".
>
> Why is that distinction as such of any value? I know
> a function when I see it, not because of notation, but
> because of context and its name, and I value much
> higher having the context and name speak to me loud and
> clear than putting that explicit with some ugly
> notation at that.

You mentioned a need to stop and think, and seemed unsure about whether
the first argument to `put' is a symbol or a function, so I took it that
the distinction was not entirely clear to you.

> For example, indentation is very helpful and should
> always and everywhere be used sensibly. So if I believe
> that, as a lisper, would I favor doing it the Python
> way, having it compulsory? Answer: Of course not.

I think you have this metaphor backward; all I said was that sharp-quote
can be helpful (like indentation), not that you should be compelled to
use it.

Pascal's point (that the sameness between `quote' and `function' in
Emacs Lisp is an implementation detail which, at least in principal,
could change) is perhaps stronger, but he's not saying that Emacs Lisp
should change to force you to use `quote' and `function' differently.

-- 
john