This is definitely a problem, and not just for PHP. Check out this section from a C++ tutorial: http://www.functionx.com/cpp/examples/returnpointer.htm http://w

This is definitely a problem, and not just for PHP. Check out this section from a C++ tutorial: http://www.functionx.com/cpp/examples/returnpointer.htm http://www.functionx.com/cpp/examples/returnpointer.htm. The author is very clearly confused by even the basic rules of C++, yet he's out there trying to teach others. It's the blind leading the blind. (Incidentally, I found it again by Googling for "worst C++ tutorial"—for me, it was the first match.) So yes, someone, please do throw some good advice out there to help drown out the bad!