I think that technically you met the objective: you did make a css statement to query a database. What you have to construct on the side so it works is a lesson

I think that technically you met the objective: you did make a css statement to query a database. What you have to construct on the side so it works is a lesson to learn, but at the end there was a valid css line that will reach the db. I think purist try to process the feeling by going on deflecting and denial, which is a personal reaction. A common one at that, but is not a popularity contest. As for me, I am having a lot of fun seeing my coworkers cringe asking them the question. It is fun.