Also relevant: Most best practices exist without explanation. We are supposed to just use it without question. I think that's what Issac meant with "fears and l

Also relevant: Most best practices exist without explanation. We are supposed to just use it without question. I think that's what Issac meant with "fears and lies" (not that I agree with his statement). Raymond Chen puts it great: Good advice comes with a rationale so you can tell when it becomes bad advice. If you don't understanding why something should be done, then you've fallen into the trap of cargo cult programming, and you'll keep doing it even when it's no longer necessary or even becomes deleterious. source: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2009/11/04/9917052.aspx http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2009/11/04/99170...