Thread status update:
- Day 8
- No examples of Lisp having a uniquely open future
- No examples of C being strangely limited
Many points are centered around the notion that Lisp is extensible while other languages are not, which is simply not true. Lisp may be extensible in different ways, but the real world benefits of these ways have yet to be demonstrated.
Other points claim that Lisp is open because it lacks standards where as other languages are hindered by rigid standards. First, this isn't true because standards can be ignored. Second, if it were true, this would be an example of negative freedom which is generally not predictive of an open future.
Can we conclude anything from this? IDK, but its starting to seem like Minsky was talking about Lisp in a nostalgic way, the same way aging audiophiles talk about tube amps, wax capacitors, vinyl, etc.
I am open to reconsideration if anyone can give any real examples to the contrary. I was hoping this thread would be a list of examples of the neato stuff Lisp can do that other languages can't instead of a boring repetitive language battle.