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> someone who uses things they don't understand without looking at the documentation is stupid

I disagree, that's sometimes the best way to learn something. I learnt C, Java and Perl just by ploughing in without reading anything. Change something, see what happens, if it doesn't make sense ask Google.

Also programming languages aside, I never read computer game manuals before playing

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If you'll allow me a bit of pedanty, that's learning and playing, not using. :)

I learned Perl the same way and play my games the same way, but when i write code that'll be used for anything that isn't frivolity, out comes the documentation to ensure the code doesn't destroy cash (or worse, lives) by the fistful.

Good point. If someone's life depended on it, I probably would read the Street Fighter manual, just in case

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