I think better criticism is, well, constructive. "Here's a better way to accomplish what they're attempting", not "That's all crap because I don't like it". And before you can do that, I think you have to understand what it is they're attempting.
I'm a professional programmer now, and I much prefer simple, straightforward manuals with clear descriptions. If I was trying to get work done, a bunch of whimsical cartoons would only get in the way. I would have no use for _why's guide today. Even way back when, I was annoyed by the ratio of text and cartoons to actual code & lessons.
But the world isn't made up entirely of professional programmers trying to get work done. There are teenagers who are curious about programming but intimidated by thick volumes and spare language websites pointing at API references. There are workers sick of their current career and looking for something new, and bored stay-at-home spouses. Whimsical guides to quirky languages are for them, not you.
I don't think anybody is pointing to _why's guide as a reference for people who need to write software for self-driving cars or aircraft telemetry in the immediate future. Nobody is arguing that all programming material must be whimsical and quirky. But there was room in the world for a cute little guide to catch newbie or non programmers and teach them a bit. The guide was just an on-ramp, and the community that surrounded it was just a bunch of newcomers fooling around, not Serious Programmers™. That's all it ever was. And in spite of that: a lot of good ideas came from that community, as others have pointed out elsewhere in this thread. A lot of them went on to be Serious Programmers.
I'm not under the impression that you're criticizing me. I read a chunk of _why's guide before I got bored, and then used Ruby for some hobby projects for a couple years nearly two decades ago, before switching to more robust languages: my identity isn't tied up in either of them. I feel like a bystander sitting on a park bench sipping coffee, witnessing you yelling at a group of kids dressed up as an anime characters or whatever, that they should put on a suit and find a real job goddamn it. Like dude, they're just having fun, and frankly it's none of your damn business. You don't like cosplay? Good for you. But maybe chill out a bit and stop yelling at strangers that they're living their life wrong.
I'm a professional programmer now, and I much prefer simple, straightforward manuals with clear descriptions. If I was trying to get work done, a bunch of whimsical cartoons would only get in the way. I would have no use for _why's guide today. Even way back when, I was annoyed by the ratio of text and cartoons to actual code & lessons.
But the world isn't made up entirely of professional programmers trying to get work done. There are teenagers who are curious about programming but intimidated by thick volumes and spare language websites pointing at API references. There are workers sick of their current career and looking for something new, and bored stay-at-home spouses. Whimsical guides to quirky languages are for them, not you.
I don't think anybody is pointing to _why's guide as a reference for people who need to write software for self-driving cars or aircraft telemetry in the immediate future. Nobody is arguing that all programming material must be whimsical and quirky. But there was room in the world for a cute little guide to catch newbie or non programmers and teach them a bit. The guide was just an on-ramp, and the community that surrounded it was just a bunch of newcomers fooling around, not Serious Programmers™. That's all it ever was. And in spite of that: a lot of good ideas came from that community, as others have pointed out elsewhere in this thread. A lot of them went on to be Serious Programmers.
I'm not under the impression that you're criticizing me. I read a chunk of _why's guide before I got bored, and then used Ruby for some hobby projects for a couple years nearly two decades ago, before switching to more robust languages: my identity isn't tied up in either of them. I feel like a bystander sitting on a park bench sipping coffee, witnessing you yelling at a group of kids dressed up as an anime characters or whatever, that they should put on a suit and find a real job goddamn it. Like dude, they're just having fun, and frankly it's none of your damn business. You don't like cosplay? Good for you. But maybe chill out a bit and stop yelling at strangers that they're living their life wrong.