JP> All he seems to be saying is that their number is relatively
JP> small, compared to the number of those who haven't tried, or who
JP> have tried and failed. 
Thanks again John, that very accurately expresses my sentiments. 
Before we are accused of being OTO, I would like to restate this entire
subthread began in response to a complete programming novice asking
whether he should learn C or C++ as his first language, his goal being
to become a proficient C++ programmer.  And I told him that "I have met
none to few programmers that ever successfully made the jump from C to
C++."  Certainly I HAVE met a few, such as yourself, Jonathan, and more
recently a consultant from Beijing.  However I regard such persons as my
intellectual superiors. I believe that a novice is better off starting
with C++.  The opposite thinking seems to be since C++ was derived from
an older version of C (K&R), one should learn the modern version of C
(ANSI) before attempting to write in C++.  As an exaggerated allegory,
that is like saying if one wishes to write in modern English, one
should first learn Icelandic, since that is the modern language most
resembling the Old English/Old Norse languages from which modern English
was derived!  A rather absurd statement when you think about it!
Thanks
Peter
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 þ KWQ/2 1.2i þ ... Safe sex means never having to say "You've got WHAT?"
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