> The worst thing about CSS is that a lot of people don't bother learning it

How dare people use CSS without learning in-depth all 20+ specifications! It's an outrage!

When people have problems using a tool, you should look at the tool rather than blaming the people. People aren't going to change. You don't tell people to be more careful using a bandsaw; you install safety features.

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bryanrasmussen 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

You obviously don't need to learn 20+ years of specs, just as with any programming language, markup language there is some stuff you need to use it in a modern way, the other stuff you can pick up as time goes on.

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grebc 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You actually don’t let people use a bandsaw if they’ve demonstrated reckless behaviour.

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noelwelsh 5 days ago | parent [-]

Yes, but that is not the same as telling competent professionals to exercise more care. Accidents are prevented by creating systems that make accidents hard, not by requiring more vigilance from individuals. This is why bandsaws come with guards and other safety features.

	▲	leptons 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		Someone who can't figure out how to use CSS effectively in about an hour is not a "professional". CSS is very simple, and very powerful. People's underdstanding of it seems to be lacking, and it almost seems like from these comments that it comes down to willful ignorance.

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rebane2001 6 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Would you hold another programming language, such as JS, to the same standard?

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noelwelsh 6 days ago | parent | next [-]

Of course. I think JS is full of mistakes. To be fair some of the more egregious ones have been fixed, but there are still plenty left.

I'm a big believer in learning new stuff, when that stuff has lasting value. However it is far more efficient to fix things, a one time cost that benefits everyone, than to ask everyone to learn the quirks of a tool, a cost that is paid every time someone new comes along.

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wmil 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Are you implying that having both String.prototype.substring and String.prototype.substr is somehow confusing?

JS is in general better because by the time it came out people knew what to expect from a scripting language.

CSS didn't really have a lot of earlier styling and layout languages to copy. Also the original vision was much more limited.

	▲	timeon 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		> Also the original vision was much more limited. Is this about CSS or JS (and things like Node)?

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squigz 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You don't tell people to be careful when using a saw?!

How about we do both? We expect people to be able to use the tools, you know, properly, and make sure the tools are well-designed?

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timeon 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> How dare people use CSS without learning in-depth all 20+ specifications! It's an outrage!

Is strange reaction to:

> ... then have a strong opinion after they were forced to use it for a day.

There is not problem with using something without understanding all complex rules. Point is about forming strong opinion based on superficial knowledge.

People are not humble these days.