explain "Larry expects that he'll be certified..."

[Brandon Walsh]

Hi,

I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek style of Perl documentation, but English
is not my mother tongue, so i don't get all jokes.

Can someone please explain this quote from perlfaq2: "Larry expects
that he'll be certified before Perl is."

What does the word "certified" means here?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Peter Wyzl]

: Hi,
:
: I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek style of Perl documentation, but English
: is not my mother tongue, so i don't get all jokes.
:
: Can someone please explain this quote from perlfaq2: "Larry expects
: that he'll be certified before Perl is."
:
: What does the word "certified" means here?

A pun on the contextually different meanings of the word certified.

In the case of Larry being certified, it means officially declared 'insane'
(mad, loony, etc) and probably consigned to an asylum. Think 'certifiably
mad'.

In the case of Perl being certified, it means officially accepted by a
certifying body (ratified, declared as a standard etc) and the standard
probably published. Think 'Microsoft Certified' etc.

P

 

[Sherm Pendley]

Can someone please explain this quote from perlfaq2: "Larry expects
that he'll be certified before Perl is."

What does the word "certified" means here?

Courtesy of <http://www.dictionary.com>:

v. cer·ti·fied, cer·ti·fy·ing, cer·ti·fies
1. To confirm formally as true, accurate, or genuine.
2. To guarantee as meeting a standard: butter that was certified
Grade A. See Synonyms at approve.
3. To acknowledge in writing on the face of (a check) that the
signature of the maker is genuine and that there are sufficient
funds on deposit for its payment.
4. To issue a license or certificate to.
5. To declare to be in need of psychiatric treatment or confinement.
6. Archaic. To inform positively; assure.

My money's on #5.

sherm--

 

[Sherm Pendley]

Think 'certifiably mad'. ....
Think 'Microsoft Certified'

There's a difference???

sherm--

 

[ioneabu]

Courtesy of <http://www.dictionary.com>:

v. cer·ti·fied, cer·ti·fy·ing, cer·ti·fies
1. To confirm formally as true, accurate, or genuine.
2. To guarantee as meeting a standard: butter that was certified
Grade A. See Synonyms at approve.
3. To acknowledge in writing on the face of (a check) that the
signature of the maker is genuine and that there are sufficient
funds on deposit for its payment.
4. To issue a license or certificate to.
5. To declare to be in need of psychiatric treatment or

confinement.

I was flipping through my "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders DSM-IV-TR (Text Revision)" for an appropriate diagnosis so we
can get him certified and leave open the possibility of working on #2.
I think many great geniuses have the following:

Diagnostic Criteria For 299.80 Asperger's Disorder
A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at
least two of the following:
marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as
eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to
regulate social interaction
failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental
level
a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or
achievements with other people (e.g. by a lack of showing, bringing, or
pointing out objects of interest to other people)
lack of social or emotional reciprocity
B. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior,
interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the
following:
encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted
patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or
rituals
stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger
flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning
D. There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g.,
single words used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3
years)

E. There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or
in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive
behavior (other than social interaction), and curiosity about the
environment in childhood

F. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental
Disorder or Schizophrenia

Then again, from reading his web site, I doubt that Larry Wall has
Asperger's Syndrome. There was another syndrome typical of great
geniuses that I read about but forgot. I have amnesia and insomnia.

w

 

[DJO]

Hi,

I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek style of Perl documentation, but English
is not my mother tongue, so i don't get all jokes.

Can someone please explain this quote from perlfaq2: "Larry expects
that he'll be certified before Perl is."

What does the word "certified" means here?

There's an old expression from the 40's and earlier, "He's
certifiable!", which is short for saying "He is certifiably crazy!".
And in this case, 'certifiable' means that while we may suspect he is
crazy, a professional would probably certify that our suspicions are
correct.

My guess is that the POD you refer to is saying that Larry expects to be
declared (or certified) crazy by someone competant to do so, before Perl
is ever certified.

And in this context, there is a play on words going on. ...applying
"certified" to Larry means he (jokingly or otherwise) thinks he's nuts.
Applying "certified" to Perl is referring to some sort of
certification that holds weight in computerdom.

And now I feel really rediculous for painstakingly explaining all the
humor out of what should be just an off the cuff joke.